Podcasts about Merck

Nancy Levine Stearns, founder of ImpactDevise, a nonprofit journalism project, discusses the corporate response to the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) backlash. Stearns' project covers DEI initiatives in the private sector, and her reporting on corporate social responsibility has been cited by publications like The New York Times, NBC News, and Forbes. Stearns, a former executive recruiter, began focusing on the DEI space after the "heated" backlash following a recent election. She was initially intrigued by a story about Costco taking a public stance on DEI. This led her to discover that other companies were also standing firm on their commitments. Key Findings from Impactivize Corporate Commitment: Stearns and Impactivise track approximately 400 companies, including publicly traded, private, and large nonprofit organizations, that have made public commitments to DEI. A recent audit found that only two of these companies have completely removed their DEI statements. Stearns believes that a stated commitment is a bold and courageous decision, as it can make a company a target for anti-DEI groups. Shareholder Support: Stearns reports that in 2025, 30 anti-DEI proposals were put forth for shareholder voting at various corporations. Shareholders overwhelmingly rejected these proposals, typically by a margin of 98% to 99% of voting shares. Stearns notes that while shareholder rejection of outside proposals is common, the overwhelming margin of these votes is unusual. The Business Imperative: Stearns states that the primary reason companies are maintaining their DEI initiatives is because they recognize it as a "strategic imperative" and a "business imperative". She cites a statement from Rob Davis, the CEO of Merck, who called diversity and inclusion a strategic imperative. Stearns emphasizes that the data and metrics show that these initiatives positively impact a company's performance and bottom line. Shifting Language: Stearns acknowledges that some companies are changing the language they use to describe their initiatives, perhaps using terms like "belonging and inclusion" or "culture and engagement". However, she notes that adversarial groups, such as the Heritage Foundation, are aware of this change in terminology and still view these efforts as DEI. Consumer Influence: Stearns believes that consumers, particularly younger generations, are a powerful force in this movement. She suggests that consumers are "voting with their wallet" and supporting companies that have strong DEI commitments. This consumer support provides a "strength in numbers" for corporations, reinforcing their commitment. Stearns argues that while the media often focuses on the narrative that DEI is "dead," the data show that it is very much alive and supported by both corporations and consumers. She maintains that the business case for diversity and inclusion is a powerful and objective force, stating, "It's not political, it's not ideological, it's not personal, it's just, it's just business". Follow Nancy's research and reporting at: https://www.impactivize.org/

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Anja Ettel und Holger Zschäpitz über die KI-FOMO-Rallye, eine aufschlussreiche Tesla-Rechnung und einen neuen Rekord bei Siemens Energy. Außerdem geht es Siemens, Siemens Healthineers, BASF, Tesla, Alphabet, Apple, Nvidia, Kodiak AI, Rheinmetall, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Jenoptik, Nordex, Intershop, Halloren, Merck, Bayer, Fair Isaac, Strategy, Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Occidental Petroleum und Berkshire Hathaway. iShares Core MSCI World ETF (WKN: A0RPWH), Invesco EQQQ Nasdaq-100 ETF (WKN: 801498), iShares Core Dax ETF (WKN: 593393), Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA (WKN: DBX0VH). Wir freuen uns über Feedback an aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Der Börsen-Podcast Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article104636888/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Matteo Lambertini discuss a compelling global study on the clinical behavior of breast cancer in young BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, the association of pre-diagnostic awareness of BRCA status with prognosis, and the importance of identifying healthy people who are at risk of carrying the BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Monty Pal: Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Monty Pal. I'm a medical oncologist, professor, and vice chair of medical oncology at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Now, when we think about genetic testing, whether for patients diagnosed with breast cancer or for other family members of them, it seems to be widely underutilized. Today, we're going to be discussing a recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that reported on the clinical behavior of breast cancer and specifically young BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, and the association of pre-diagnostic awareness of BRCA status with prognosis. I thought this was just a fascinating piece, and I honestly couldn't wait to have this conversation. It's a really compelling paper that highlights the importance of identifying healthy people who are at risk of carrying the BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants, and really the need for genetic counseling and testing to inform people about early detection that could lead to a better prognosis. I'm really delighted to welcome the study's lead author, Dr. Matteo Lambertini. He really needs no introduction. He's very well known in the breast cancer world for his amazing contributions to fertility in the context of breast cancer, to pregnancy in the context of breast cancer, and genetic testing. He's an associate professor at the University of Genova, and a breast cancer medical oncologist at the San Martino Polyclinic Hospital in Genova, Italy.  Dr. Lambertini, thank you so much for joining us today. Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Thank you very much, Dr. Pal. It's a great pleasure. Dr. Monty Pal: Oh, thanks. And just FYI, if you're listening in and you want to hear our disclosures, they're all listed at the transcript of this podcast.  So, I poured through this paper [Clinical Behavior of Breast Cancer in Young BRCA Carriers and Prediagnostic Awareness of Germline BRCA Status] yesterday, Dr. Lambertini, and first of all, congratulations on this study. This was a huge international multicenter effort, 4,752 patients. How did you pool all these patients with young breast cancer? Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Thanks a lot for the question. Yes, this was an effort made by several centers all over the world. The main idea behind the creation of this network that we have named as BRCA BCY Collaboration, was to get as many data as possible in a sort of niche patient population in the breast cancer field, meaning women diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40 years or younger, and all of them being BRCA carriers. We know that around, in the Western world, around 5% of breast cancer cases are being diagnosed under the age of 40 years, and among them around 10-15% are BRCA carriers. So, I would say it's a relatively rare patient population where we did not have a lot of evidence to support our choices in terms of counseling on treatment, prevention, and oncofertility as well. That was the idea behind the creation of this network that includes many centers. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah. You know, what's so interesting about this is that you sort of draw this line between patients who have BRCA testing at the time of diagnosis and then BRCA testing earlier in their course and then leading to a diagnosis perhaps. And I think that's where really sort of the dichotomy in outcome sits. Can you maybe elaborate on this and tell us about timing of genetic testing in this study and what that meant ultimately in terms of prognosis? Dr. Matteo Lambertini: In this specific analysis from this large network, including almost 5,000 women with breast cancer diagnosed at the age of 40 years or younger and being a BRCA carrier, we looked specifically into the timing of genetic testing because this is a retrospective study and the criteria for inclusion are those that I have just mentioned, so diagnosis at a young age plus carrying germline BRCA pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant. In this analysis, we have looked into the time the patient has got the genetic testing and particular we focused on two populations: those that were diagnosed, knowing already to be a BRCA carrier, and those that got tested after being diagnosed with breast cancer. And the main findings from this analysis have been that knowing to be a BRCA carrier was associated with a lower stage at the time of diagnosis, meaning more T1 tumors, so a tumor less than 2 cm, more node-negative disease, and this translated into less aggressive treatment, so less often axillary dissection, less often use of chemotherapy and anthracycline-based chemotherapy. And even more importantly, we have seen a better overall survival for those patients that were diagnosed already knowing to be BRCA carriers as compared to those tested after breast cancer diagnosis. These results after adjusting for all the confounding, stage, treatment and so on, there was not significant anymore, meaning that it's not the timing of test per se that is probably leading to a better survival, but it is the fact that knowing to be a BRCA carrier would likely translate into having access to all the preventive measures that we have in this setting and this will translate into an overall survival benefit, so in terms of saving more lives in young BRCA carriers. Dr. Monty Pal: I think it's such an important point, and it's one that I think might sound implicit, right, but it needs to be proven, I think, through a study like this. You know, the fact that finding this early, identifying the mutation, doing enhanced screening, and so forth, is really going to lead to superior clinical outcomes. One of the things that I think many people puzzle over, including myself, is what to do? I personally occasionally will see BRCA altered patients in the context of prostate cancer. But that's a very different population of individuals, right? Typically older men. In young females with BRCA mutation, I guess there's a specific set of considerations around reproductive health. You'd already highlighted preventive strategies, but what sorts of things should we be talking about in the clinics once a patient's diagnosed and once perhaps their breast cancer diagnosis is established? Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Yes, exactly. Knowing to be a BRCA carrier has a lot of implications from prevention to treatment to survivorship issues including reproductive counseling. And this is important not only for the patient that has been diagnosed with breast cancer but also for all the family members that will get tested and maybe identify with this sort of genetic alteration before diagnosis of cancer. Why this is important is because we have access to very effective preventive measures, a few examples: MRI screening, which starts at a very young age and normally young women don't have an effective screening strategy outside the BRCA field. Also, primary preventive measures, for example, risk-reducing surgery. These women are known to have a high risk of breast cancer and high risk of ovarian cancer. So the guidelines are suggesting to undergo risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy at a young age, so 35 to 40 years in BRCA1 carrier, 40 to 45 years in BRCA2 carrier. And also risk-reducing mastectomy should be discussed because it is a very effective way to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. And in some situations, including the setting that we are talking about, so young women with breast cancer, BRCA carrier, also risk-reducing mastectomy has shown to improve overall survival.  On the other side, once diagnosed with breast cancer, nowadays knowing to be or not a BRCA carrier can make a difference in terms of treatment. We have PARP inhibitors in the early setting, in the adjuvant setting as well as in the metastatic setting. And in terms of survivorship implication, one of the critical aspects for young women is the oncofertility care which is even more complicated when we talk about BRCA carriers that are women candidates for gynecological surgery at a very young age. So this sort of counseling is even more complicated. Dr. Monty Pal: One of the other things, and this is subtle in your paper and I hope you don't mind me bringing it up, is the difference between BRCA1 and BRCA2. It really got me thinking about that because there are differences in phenotype and manifestation. Do you mind just expanding on that a little bit for the audience because I think that's a really important reminder that you brought up in the discussion? Dr. Matteo Lambertini: The difference between BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers has been known that there are different phenotypes of breast cancer that are more often diagnosed in these two different populations. Normally BRCA1 carriers have a higher likelihood to develop a triple negative breast cancer as compared to BRCA2 carriers, more likely to develop a hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative disease. In this study, again, a specific population of young women with breast cancer, we have seen the same findings, mostly triple negative disease in BRCA1 carrier, mostly luminal-like disease in BRCA2 carrier. But what's novel or interesting from this study is to look also at the age at the time of diagnosis of this disease. And particularly in BRCA1 carriers, we should be sort of more careful about diagnosis of breast cancer and also other primary tumors including ovarian cancer because the risk of developing these malignancies is higher even at a younger age as compared to BRCA2 carriers. And this has implications also in the primary and secondary prevention that we were talking about earlier. Dr. Monty Pal: Oh, interesting. I guess the fundamental question then from your paper becomes, how do we get at the right patients for screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2? And I realize our audience here is largely oncologists who are going to be listening to this podcast, oncology providers, MDs, nurses, etc. But maybe speak for a moment to the general practitioner. Are there things that, for instance, a general practitioner should be looking for to say, “Wait a minute, this patient's high risk, we should consider BRCA1, BRCA2 testing or germline screening”? Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Yes, it's a very important question for the breast cancer community. After the updated ASCO guideline, the counseling is way easier because right now the age cutoff goes up to 65 years, meaning that all the patients diagnosed with breast cancer below the age of 65 years should be tested these days. And then above the age of 65, there are different criteria like triple-negative disease or family history. From a general practitioner standpoint, it's of course a bit more difficult, but knowing particularly the family history of the person that they have in front will be crucial to know if there are cases of breast cancer diagnosed at a young age, maybe triple-negative cases, knowing cases of ovarian cancer in first-degree relatives or pancreatic cancer in first-degree relatives, and of course cases of prostate cancer as well. So, I would say probably mostly the family side will be important from a general practitioner perspective.  From an oncology one, the other point that I think is important to stress also based on the data that we have shown in this publication is that having a case of breast cancer known to carry a BRCA pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant. It means that all the people around this case should get tested and if found to be BRCA carrier and healthy carrier, these people should also undergo the primary and secondary prevention strategies because this is very critical also to improve their outcomes and try to avoid the developing of breast or ovarian cancer, but also in the case of diagnosis of this disease, a diagnosis at an earlier stage, as we have seen in this paper. Dr. Monty Pal: Brilliant. I'm going to diverge from our list of questions here and close by asking a question that I have at the top of my mind. You're very young. I know our podcast listeners can't see you, but you're very, very young. Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Thank you. Thank you for that. Not so young but yeah. Dr. Monty Pal: You have nearly 300 papers. Your H-index is 67. You've already made these seminal contributions, as I outlined it from the outset, regarding fertility, regarding use of GnRH analogs, regarding pregnancy and breast cancer. What are you studying now? What are you really excited about right now that you're doing that you think might potentially be practice changing? Give us a little teaser. Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Yeah. Thanks a lot, Dr. Pal. Receiving this compliment from you is fantastic. So, thanks a lot for that. From my side, in terms of my research, I've been interested in the field of breast cancer in young women since the start of my training. I've had very good mentors from Italy, from Europe, from the U.S. I'm still interested in this field, so I think we still have a lot to learn to try to improve the care of young women with breast cancer. For example, the oncofertility care, which is something I worked a lot over the past years. Now with all the new treatment options, there's a sort of new chapter of oncofertility counseling. So, what's the impact of immunotherapy? What's the impact of the new targeted agents?  More on the genetic aspects, now we know that there's not only BRCA1 or BRCA2. There are a lot of other different genes that may increase the risk of breast cancer and other malignancies. And also for these genes, we really don't have a lot of evidence to counsel women on prognosis, treatment, prevention strategy. So we need to learn way more for this special patient population that are quite rare, and so we really need a multicenter academic effort to try to give some evidence in this field. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah. It's tough because these are rare circumstances, but, you know, I think that you've done really well to sort of define some collective experiences that I think really define therapy. I mean, I just remember when I was in training 25 years ago, just reading through textbooks where all the experience around breast cancer and pregnancy was really just very sort of anecdotal almost, you know? And so it's great to see that the state of the science has moved forward.  Well, gosh, I really enjoyed our conversation today. I think your study really reminds us how powerful genetic information is in terms of improving outcomes. And, you know, hopefully this will lead some individuals to perhaps test more broadly in appropriate settings. So, thank you so much, Matteo, for joining us today with your fantastic insights on the ASCO Daily News Podcast. Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Thank you very much, Dr. Pal. It's a real pleasure. Dr. Monty Pal: And thanks to our listeners too. You'll find a link to Dr. Lambertini's study in the transcript of this episode. Finally, if you value the insights that you heard today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks a ton. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Find out more about today's speakers:    Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal  @montypal  Dr. Matteo Lambertini @matteolambe   Follow ASCO on social media:     @ASCO on Twitter    ASCO on Bluesky   ASCO on Facebook     ASCO on LinkedIn     Disclosures:    Dr. Monty Pal:   Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview  Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical  Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis  Dr. Matteo Lambertini: Consulting or Advisory Role: Roche, Novartis, Lilly, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, MSD, Exact Sciences, Gilead Sciences, Seagen, Menarini, Nordic Pharma Speakers' Bureau: Takeda, Roche, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Ipsen, Knight Therapeutics, Libbs, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead Sciences, AstraZeneca, Menarini, AstraZeneca, Menarini Research Funding (Inst.): Gilead Sciences Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Gilead Sciences, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH, Roche

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Anja Ettel und Holger Zschäpitz über einen Gamechanger-Deal, Wall-Street-Rekorde trotz Shutdown und das fulminante Börsendebüt von Fermi. Außerdem geht es um Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Vertex, Regeneron, Thermo Fisher, Repligen, Danaher, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Intuitive Surgical, Bayer, Merck, Salzgitter, Thyssenkrupp, Bitcoin, Solana, Ether, Sartorius, Palantir Technologies, Thales, L3Harris Technologies, RTX, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, AeroVironment, DroneShield, Elbit Systems, Electro Optic Systems, Saab AB, Hensoldt, Mercury Systems, QinetiQ, Chemring Group, Cohort, Exail Technologies, Rocket Lab, Iridium Communications, BlackSky Technology, Electro Optic Systems, Leidos Holdings, CACI International, Parsons, Telos Corp, Leidos, SAIC, QinetiQ, Parsons VanEck Space Innovators ETF (WKN: A3DP9J), Invesco Defence Innovation ETF (WKN: A40J95), Global X Defence Tech ETF (WKN: A40E7A), Droneshield, Palantir, Red Cat Holdings. Wir freuen uns über Feedback an aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Der Börsen-Podcast Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article104636888/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

Merck has been active in Ireland for decades making products for hospital environments as well as life sciences. Now Merck Group, which is based in Germany and not to be confused with the American company of the same name, says that it will be creating the world's first climate neutral manufacturing facility in Cork. It comes as all pharma giants are being pressured to move their plants to America. Mark Dunphy, Managing Director and Head of Cork Operations, Merck Life Science, Ireland.

"Two truths can coexist: you can be proud of your career and ready for something new." In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo chats with Celeste Warren—founder of Celeste Warren Consulting and co-founder of Destination STEM—to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity and create lasting change. Celeste brings her full self to leadership: Black woman, mother, wife, aunt, caregiver, and entrepreneur. These intersecting identities aren't just who she is—they're how she leads, informing her belief that inclusive leadership isn't performative theater. It's about practical, repeatable acts of equity that meet people exactly where they are. The Moment That Changed Everything Sometimes one moment of visibility can reshape an entire trajectory. Celeste shares how a single national presentation became a key catalyst that transformed her career path, proving that excellence paired with strategic exposure creates opportunities that "heads-down" work alone cannot. Her journey spans 28+ years at Merck, and originated from journalism roots to becoming Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Now, through her consulting practice and new book The Truth About Equity, she's translating decades of wisdom into actionable guidance for the next generation of leaders. What You'll Discover The Exposure EquationWhy preparation without visibility limits your potential, and how to strategically position yourself for career-defining moments. Building Careers on Learning, Not TitlesHow choosing roles for skills and stretch over status creates compound leadership readiness that serves you for decades. Equity, DemystifiedClear, practical language for what equity actually is—and what it isn't—cutting through today's polarized debates with actionable everyday practices. ERGs as Talent AcceleratorsWhy Employee Resource Group leadership often provides more management experience and cross-functional visibility than traditional org charts. Influence Without AuthorityPractical moves for individual contributors to shape culture without waiting for permission or the perfect job title. Inclusive Leadership at ScaleHow senior roles don't make the work easier—just different—and why aligning diverse teams around shared purpose is both art and science. The Intersectional Advantage Celeste's leadership philosophy is inextricably linked to her lived experience. As she puts it, "We're not one identity. We're the cross-section of what's seen and unseen—life experiences that shape how we lead." Her path from reporter to global DEI leader to entrepreneur demonstrates how diverse experiences compound into unique leadership strengths: Journalism foundations taught her to ask better questions and tell clearer stories HR expertise across training, labor relations, and transformation built deep business acumen Manufacturing experience where she created learning strategies that upskilled workforces without layoffs Global D&I leadership that scaled inclusion across a multinational enterprise Entrepreneurship now channeling all of this wisdom into consulting, speaking, and education Who Does This Episode Serve? Whether you're an early-career professional learning to navigate corporate spaces, an ERG leader looking to maximize impact, or an Executive working to move inclusion from intention to measurable results—this conversation offers both inspiration and practical guidance. About Our Guest: Celeste Warren Founder, Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC - Connect on Linkedin Former VP & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Merck Author of How to Be a Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador and The Truth About Equity Co-Founder, Destination STEM (supporting students of color in STEM) Internationally recognized for DEI leadership, including 2024 Chief Diversity Officer of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Above all, she's a relentless believer in people and the power of authentic leadership. About the Host: Dr. Lola Adeyemo An inclusive workplace advocate. She is the CEO of EQImindset (an ERG/BRG consulting firm) and the founder of Immigrants in Corporate Inc. A scientist-turned-ERG strategist, author, and speaker who helps organizations move inclusion from intention to measurable impact through strategy, storytelling, and workplace communities. Connect with Dr. Lola Adeyemo on Linkedin. Get Involved HR/Culture/DEI leaders: Email Lola@EQImindset.com to launch and scale ERGs that drive real business outcomes or to guest on the podcast. Join our community for immigrant & first-gen professionals

The latest episode of the DDW Highlights Podcast is now available to listen to below. DDW's Bruno Quinney narrates five key stories of the week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry updates. In this week's news, results from a clinical trial offer hope for the first time that Huntington's disease can be slowed. Elsewhere, new synthetic kidneys could be 'revolutionary' tools for kidney disease research, and pharma giant Merck has partnered with technology company Siemens to develop AI projects. You can listen below, or find The Drug Discovery World Podcast on Spotify, Google Play and Apple Podcasts. 

Kosten-Nutzen-Untersuchungen für neue Straßenbahnstrecken sollen bis 2026 vorliegen, 2024 war jeder sechste Autounfall im Odenwaldkreis auf überhöhte Geschwindigkeit zurückzuführen und das Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor ist jetzt offiziell ein Kult-Stadion. Das und mehr heute im Podcast. Alle Hintergründe zu den Nachrichten des Tages finden Sie hier: https://www.echo-online.de/lokales/suedhessen/neue-signale-fuer-schienen-ausbau-in-darmstadts-nachbarstaedte-5007768 https://www.echo-online.de/lokales/darmstadt/situation-um-krone-disco-nun-sprechen-die-doenerbudenchefs-5002229 https://www.echo-online.de/lokales/odenwaldkreis/landkreis-odenwaldkreis/gefaehrliche-raser-im-odenwald-und-haarstraeubende-ausreden-4965503 https://www.echo-online.de/politik/politik-hessen/weniger-alte-baeume-fuer-artenschutz-streit-um-hessens-waelder-4984372 https://www.echo-online.de/sport/fussball/fussball-zweite-bundesliga/darmstaedter-boelle-ist-ein-kult-stadion-merck-boellenfalltor-5003998 Ein Angebot der VRM.

US equity markets retreated, with the S&P500 and Nasdaq declining for a third consecutive session - Dow fell -174-points or -0.38%, with Amgen Inc (-2.88%), Nike Inc (-2.78%) and Merck & Co Inc (-2.6%) all falling over >2.5%.International Business Machines (IBM) Corp gained +5.20% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index after financial partner HSBC Holdings Plc said it had a "positive trial" using quantum computers from "Big Blue" for algorithmic bond trading.The broader S&P500 lost -0.50%, booking its largest three-day decline (-1.33%) since August. Health Care (down -1.67%) and Consumer Discretionary (-1.47%) led nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy (up +0.87%) sat atop the primary sector leaderboard for a second straight session Intel Corp rallied +8.87% to be the leading S&P500 and Nasdaq performer overnight following a Wall Street Journal reports that the company has approached Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company about investments in manufacturing or partnerships. The latest report comes a day after Bloomberg reported that the chipmaker is seeking an investment from Apple Inc (up +1.81%).

US equity markets retreated, with the S&P500 and Nasdaq declining for a third consecutive session - Dow fell -174-points or -0.38%, with Amgen Inc (-2.88%), Nike Inc (-2.78%) and Merck & Co Inc (-2.6%) all falling over >2.5%.International Business Machines (IBM) Corp gained +5.20% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index after financial partner HSBC Holdings Plc said it had a "positive trial" using quantum computers from "Big Blue" for algorithmic bond trading.

Zoetis gilt als weltweit führendes Tiergesundheitsunternehmen und ist seit der Abspaltung von Pfizer 2013 eigenständig an der Börse notiert. Mit Blockbuster-Medikamenten, starker Präsenz im Heimtier- und Nutztierbereich sowie einem wachsenden Diagnostik-Segment hat sich das Unternehmen langfristig solide entwickelt. Trotz guter Quartalszahlen, steigender Umsätze und einer angehobenen Prognose bleibt die Aktie seit Jahren unter Druck. Warum reagiert der Markt so schwach, obwohl Gewinnmargen und Dividende weiter steigen? Welche Rolle spielen Konkurrenzunternehmen wie IDEXX oder Merck? Und wo liegen die entscheidenden Unterstützungszonen im Chart? In dieser Analyse geht es um:1. die aktuelle Bewertung im Vergleich zum historischen KGV2. Wachstumschancen im Diagnostik- und Heimtiermarkt3. Risiken durch regulatorische Verfahren und abflachende Nachfrage4. die technische Ausgangslage vor den nächsten Quartalszahlen Am Ende steht die Frage: Handelt es sich bei Zoetis um eine unterbewertete Qualitätsaktie mit Burggraben, oder um ein Investment, das noch tiefer fallen kann? Inhaltsverzeichnis00:00 Intro00:59 Langfristiger Chart: Zoetis02:43 Zoetis vs. S&P 500 vs. SPDR Health Care ETF vs. ProShares Pet Care ETF (PAWZ)03:26 Zoetis vs. IDEXX Laboratories vs. Virbac vs. Merck & Company vs. Elanco vs. Neogen04:04 Global Top 10 Animal Health Companies04:51 Geschäftsmodell08:07 Grundprinzip von Zoetis08:42 Quartalszahlen09:53 Negative Schlagzeilen11:21 Tier-Diagnostik Markt im Überblick12:11 Burggraben13:45 Inhaberschaft15:06 Umsatz & Margen Entwicklung15:48 Gewinn- & Cashflow-Entwicklung vs. Video aus 202416:20 Bilanz Überblick & Aktienrückkäufe17:05 Kennzahlen17:45 Dividende18:30 Unternehmensbewertung vs. Video aus 202419:05 Chartanalyse vs. Video aus 202419:49 Ist die Zoetis Aktie derzeit ein Kauf?22:26 Disclaimer22:56 Börsen-Kompass Einblick23:23 Danke fürs Einschalten!

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) HSBC Holdings said it’s achieved a world-first breakthrough in deploying quantum computing in financial markets, as a race intensifies among some of Wall Street’s biggest firms to embed the cutting-edge technology in their daily operations. (2) Intel has approached Apple about securing an investment in the ailing chipmaker, according to people familiar with the matter, part of efforts to bolster a business that’s now partially owned by the US government. (3) US stocks are screamingly expensive when viewed from a historical perspective. But dig into the details, and the sky-high valuations may well be warranted, say strategists at Bank of America (4) The US lowered tariffs on auto imports from the European Union to 15% retroactive to Aug. 1, cementing terms of the framework trade agreement the two sides struck almost two months ago (5) Splits on the Bank of England policymaking committee were on full display on Wednesday after Governor Andrew Bailey said there was further to go on interest-rate cuts just hours before external member Megan Greene proposed “skipping” a cut in November. (6) Russia plans to run a budget deficit for a fifth year as declining revenue and increased spending continue to put pressure on the government’s finances amid the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine. (7) Global drugmakers including Merck, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca are pausing or canceling investments in the UK while throwing barbs at the lack of competitiveness of its business environment Podcast Conversation: Bob Iger Just Learned a Hard Lesson: Beth KowittSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FDA has approved the injectable version of Merck's cancer therapy Keytruda. Merck CEO Robert Davis discusses the pricing of this drug and others with CNBC's Angelica Peebles, Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Davis also stands firm on the safety of vaccines and weighs in on the Trump administration's agenda for health care. Jimmy Kimmel has returned to ABC's airwaves. Puck's Matt Belloni discusses the host's temporary suspension, Kimmel's response, and the contractual obligations of Disney's affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair. Plus, the U.S. has barred Iran's diplomats from shopping at wholesale stores like Costco without permission.  Matt Belloni - 15:12Robert Davis - 28:47 In this episodeMatt Belloni, @mattbelloniJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With over 20 years of experience at industry giants like Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, and Merck, Dana Dawsey's career has been anything but comfortable—by design! Dana is currently the Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety at Pentair, but like most guests, she didn't see safety as her future when becoming an industrial engineering student. Since then, she has implemented life-saving ergonomic improvements and spearheaded global EHS strategies. Dana's story is one of resilience, continuous learning, and a people-centric leadership style, enriched by her certification as a John Maxwell leadership coach. Whether you're an EHS professional or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, Dana's insights on embedding safety and well-being as core values will leave you motivated and inspired.

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world. The FDA has revived a long-dormant drug from GlaxoSmithKline as a potential treatment for autism. The agency also mentioned the potential link between the use of Tylenol and other acetaminophen products during pregnancy and neurological and developmental defects in children. In other news, Scholar Rock's spinal muscular atrophy drug faced manufacturing site issues, while Lexicon's type 1 diabetes drug experienced regulatory delays. Merck's ProQuad vaccine history was examined amid changing vaccine guidelines. Kennedy's criticism of childhood vaccines was also discussed. Biotility offers industry-recognized credentials for bioscience professionals, while a variety of biopharma news and upcoming events were highlighted.

The FDA is working to reapprove GSK's long-dormant drug Wellcovorin (leucovorin) for cerebral folate deficiency, which the agency linked to “developmental delays with autistic features.” This immediately followed a much-anticipated press conference in which President Donald Trump, flanked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and other healthcare administrators, linked the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to rising rates of autism.  Meanwhile, Pfizer woke us all up Monday with the news that it had acquired breakout obesity rockstar Metsera for $4.9B. The deal should pump new life into Pfizer's portfolio, which over the last two years has suffered three discontinued assets. Bite-sized deals—or those at or below the $5 billion mark—have defined biopharma recently, with Roche picking up metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis biotech 89bio for a potential $3.5 billion last week and Novartis putting another $5.7 billion on the line with partner Monte Rosa Therapeutics in a second molecular glue agreement.  Another therapeutic space primed for M&A action is psychedelics. After AbbVie bought Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals' lead depression asset for $1.2B last month, BioSpace spoke sought opinions from experts on who might be next to take the plunge. A few potential names included Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck.  On the policy front, the CDC's revamped vaccine advisory committee convened for their first meeting to discuss COVID-19, MMRV and hepatitis B vaccine schedules. Industry watchers who spoke to BioSpace commented on the “lack of knowledge” and dearth of previous experience on the committee. And while the advisors ultimately voted to change the schedule for the MMRV vaccine, it appears unlikely to significantly affect manufacturers' bottom lines. Finally, in rare disease, Stealth BioTherapeutics secured its long-sought approval for elamipretide—now Forzinity—in Barth syndrome—a disorder that would fall under the purview of the FDA's new Rare Disease Evidence Principles framework for ultra rare diseases affecting less than 1,000 people in the U.S. And we said “Bye Bye Bluebird,” as the famed gene therapy biotech—which was recently bought out by two private equity firms—returned to its original moniker, Genetix Biotherapeutics.  Lastly, make sure to sign up for Biopharm Executive here for access to a special deep dive into China biopharma.  

What if process intensification could transform your bioprocessing economics without the complexity most engineers fear? Getting 3x productivity gains and 30-150% titer increases once seemed reserved for Big Pharma's endless R&D budgets, but a strategic approach to technology selection is making these results achievable for companies of any size.In this episode, David Brühlmann speaks with Andreas Castan, a bioprocess veteran with over 25 years of industry experience who provides leadership and support to Cytiva's bioprocess business. Andreas brings deep expertise from directing upstream development at Swedish Orphan Biovitrum and extensive work in expression systems, process development, scale-up, and cGMP manufacturing across multiple therapeutic modalities.Why tune in? Here's your process engineer's roadmap:Process Intensification Economics Decoded: Andreas reveals the cost-benefit reality behind continuous vs fed-batch manufacturing, including real process economic modeling data showing why the differences aren't as dramatic as you'd expect and what factors actually drive your business case.Low-Hanging Fruit That Delivers: Skip the overhyped AI solutions. Andreas shares the strategic fundamentals that work: high-producing cell line development, N-1 perfusion for rapid productivity gains, and smart bioreactor turndown strategies that eliminate process steps without adding complexity.Decision Framework for Technology Selection: Learn when continuous processing makes economic sense (and when it doesn't), how media costs impact your COGS analysis, and why understanding your bottlenecks, not following industry trends, should drive your intensification strategy.Industry Insider Strategies: Get the inside track on what AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Merck, Lonza, and Takeda are actually implementing, plus Andreas's perspective on why human expertise and mechanistic insights still outweigh AI in real-world process decisions.Ready to make smarter technology investments and achieve measurable productivity gains? This isn't theory. It's a practical guide to process intensification economics that you can apply whether you're preparing for Phase I or scaling for commercial manufacturing.Connect with Andreas Castan:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-castan-91570b1Cytiva landing page: Process intensificationOnline tool: Process intensifierNext step:Book a 20-minute call to help you get started on any questions you may have about bioprocessing analytics: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

The race to harness AI in biopharma is on, with billions invested to unlock faster, smarter drug discovery and development.In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Matthew Studney, SVP, Global R&D IT & Partnerships at Merck, shares how his team is strengthening foundational platforms, upgrading systems, and driving digital transformation across discovery, development, clinical research, and pharmacovigilance. He explains how Merck is reimagining the flow of data, ensuring access for scientists, and piloting machine learning and generative AI solutions to accelerate research and deliver treatments more effectively.Matt highlights how deep learning models are shortening drug development cycles, how pharmacovigilance safeguards patient safety, and why ensuring representative clinical trial data is critical for global equity. He emphasizes that while innovation creates headlines, scaling is what creates true value, and success depends on building strong foundations that support researchers worldwide.Matt also shares his insights on the future of AI in biopharma, busts myths about hype versus impact, points to challenges of change, and offers advice for early-career professionals: build depth, embrace AI, and be useful.Tune in to hear how AI and data science are transforming the future of drug discovery at Merck!

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world. Pfizer has made a comeback in the obesity market with the acquisition of Metsera for $4.9 billion, rejuvenating its portfolio after facing challenges with three discontinued assets. Meanwhile, Stealth BioTherapeutics has received expedited FDA approval for the first-ever treatment for Barth syndrome, and Sanofi's decision on their oral multiple sclerosis drug has been postponed to December. The ACIP committee has expressed concerns about a lack of knowledge and experience within the reconstituted committee. Biotility offers industry-recognized credentials to advance bioscience careers, Novartis is exploring ways to reduce drug costs in the US, and Merck has received approval for a subcutaneous formulation of Keytruda. Stay tuned for more updates on the psychedelics space, rare disease treatments, and other developments in the biopharmaceutical industry.

On this week's episode, Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Luba Greenwood and Matt Gline open with a look at overall market sentiment, spotlighting Stifel's bullish report on the biotech sector's nice recovery since April's “liberation day” with the XBI up over 40%, the recent wave of M&A activity, and the Biotech Winter. The co-hosts then highlight recent deals, including Roche's $3.5 billion acquisition of 89Bio and Novartis's $5.7 billion licensing agreement with Monte Rosa Therapeutics. In data news, the group overviews aTyr Pharma's Phase 3 results in pulmonary sarcoidosis, with Matt Gline sharing perspective on the therapeutic area after Roivant's similar fate. Next, long-versus-short dynamics around biotech data readouts are highlighted, along with positive data sets from Areteia and Apollo. Matt also details Roivant's positive Phase 3 results in dermatomyositis. The conversation then turns to big pharma's exodus from the UK, as several companies including Merck, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly scale back large investments. The co-hosts explore possible causes for the pullback, such as heavy regulation and tax incentives holding back innovation. Michal Preminger joins the discussion to share her unique insights on UK and US biotech hubs and draws attention to the Massachusetts paradox and the impact on the biopharma industry. *This episode aired on September 19, 2025

Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Mina Sedrak discuss the science behind cancer treatment-induced accelerated aging and the development of drug therapies and technologies aimed at helping older patients and cancer survivors. TRANSCRIPT Transcript: Cancer and Aging: Researching the Path to Longer, More Vibrant Lives Dr. Monty Pal: Hello, and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I am Dr. Monty Pal. I am a medical oncologist and professor and vice chair of medical oncology here at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. I am also host of this podcast. Today, we are going to be talking to somebody that I consider to be my little brother, if you will, in oncology, Mina Sedrak. Mina is an expert in the area of cancer and aging, which really includes the development of drug therapies and technologies that help enable older adults and survivors to live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives. I am really excited to chat with him. He is an expert not just in cancer and aging but also breast cancer. He was my former colleague here at City of Hope before he moved over to the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he is an associate professor and director there of the Cancer and Aging Program. Dr. Sedrak's research involves mechanisms behind cancer treatment-induced accelerated aging and really aims to take this science into more of a therapeutic direction, which I am super, super excited about.  Mina, thanks so much for joining us today, and just FYI for our listeners, we have all of our disclosures in the transcript of this episode. Dr. Mina Sedrak: Thank you, Monty. Thank you, Dr. Pal, for having me. I am really excited to be here. Dr. Monty Pal: I feel like we have to go on a first-name basis here with how well we know each other. So Mina, you and I together have witnessed this evolution in cancer and aging. I mean, both of us worked together here with just a legendary figure in the field of geriatric oncology, I will call it, Dr. Arti Hurria, mentor to me, mentor to you, mentor to so many. Can you give us a sense of where cancer and aging has gone since the time that you and I started here together at City of Hope? Dr. Mina Sedrak: Dr. Hurria and her collaborators, Dr. [Willliam] Dale and Dr. [Supriya] Mohile, they were like huge pioneers in the field. They were one of the very first people to highlight the importance of looking at older adults beyond just their chronological age and their comorbidities and moving us beyond just seeing patients and making decisions using what we call the eyeball test. "Oh, this person looks fit or not fit, frail or robust," to really using objective measures to assess our patient's health status and incorporate that assessment into our evaluation of the treatment, prognostication, and discussions with our patients throughout the cancer continuum. And so that is what geriatric oncology has and continues to be, and it is a huge, important part. And their work has laid the foundation to show that when we look at our patients beyond just their chronological age and we look at their functional age, and we do these objective assessments, we can gain much more deeper information to tailor the treatment for our patient that is sitting in front of us, rather than do a prescriptive treatment or over- or undertreatment in that population. So that is sort of where the field is growing, and a lot of the work now is, how do we implement that? How do we put that into clinical practice? Dr. Monty Pal: Well, let me kind of spearhead that discussion, right? I have these moments when I go to the ASCO Annual Meeting – I remember this happened to me a while ago when Dr. Jennifer Temel presented that terrific work around early palliative care interventions, right? Or it even happened to me this year, right, when Dr. Christopher Booth presented the CHALLENGE trial around exercise and colon cancer. You know, these amazing, I am going to say simple, they are not simple, but they are simple interventions relative to, you know, some of the complex drugs and mechanisms that we are using nowadays that really help outcomes for our cancer patients. The big question becomes, how do you implement, right? But my understanding is that there are easy ways for us to take tools in cancer and aging and sort of plug them into our daily practice. Am I right about that? Dr. Mina Sedrak: Yes, and that is something that they are – the Cancer and Aging Research Group, which was founded by Dr. Hurria and now is co-led by Dr. Dale, Dr. Mohile, and Dr. [Heidi] Klepin, they have been incredible at really trying to develop practical tools, like the Practical Geriatric Assessment, which is now endorsed by the ASCO and other NCCN guidelines. And so, there are tools that are becoming more and more practical to help incorporate that into clinic.  Now, what might be practical in a resource-intensive setting may not be practical in some of the limited resources, whether it is rural and/or other countries where the resources may be more limited. So that is why Cristiane Bergerot, Enrique Soto, and others have been really working hard. There was actually a really beautiful paper that was just published in the Journal of Global Oncology, where they have shown that there are guidelines [ASCO Geriatric Assessment Global Guideline] about how to implement these tests, these tools, these assessments in clinical practice, even in different resource settings. So I think we are going to get to the future where this is much more – it is definitely important, but it is much more easily ‘incorporatable' into our practice. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, you know how close I am to Cris, and I was so proud when I saw that paper come out. That was really exciting. You know, I skimmed it. I have to tell you, I did not get into the weeds, but it was apparent to me that, you know, some of these geriatric oncology tools are things that, you know, I could probably plug and play into my practice where I am double- and triple-booked over, you know, most slots, right? I mean, I could still probably afford a little bit of time or maybe have, like, a nurse or an extender kind of help participate in the evaluation process. I thought that was, yeah, really, really interesting. Dr. Mina Sedrak: I will just say that at UCLA, we are working with Dr. Arash Naeim, who is a geriatric oncologist, and he has developed an AI platform where the assessments can be done by an AI computer. So it is like talking to your ChatGPT. They can talk to you, and for a few minutes, they will ask you the questions. So you do not even have to fill it out on a piece of paper. You could give the patient a little iPad, put them in a private room while they are waiting for their doctor, and get the results, and it is right there for you. And so, we have been trying to think about how can technology help with the completion of the assessment, at least doing that? And I think it is actually, it has been very cool. We did a pilot study. He is writing that up, and we are going to continue to do some of this exciting work. How do we think about AI in the context of this? And, you know, older adults, they are not like what they used to be. A lot of older adults are very familiar with and comfortable with phones and computers and iPads, much more so today than they were even at the time when Dr. Hurria was alive. Dr. Monty Pal: That is so interesting. You mentioned this, the AI approach is something I have been thinking about in this context because what if, for instance, you know, we have got video monitors all over our hospital, right? What if you are actually just taking a look at that patient as they make their way towards your clinic? Capture that video, use an AI algorithm to say, "Hey, you know, the timed get-up-and-go test in this patient is not particularly good based on what I am seeing here," right? There are so many ways that you could, you know, stir the pot and come up with creative ways to get these tests done. Dr. Mina Sedrak: That's right. And Arash is looking at also sensors. So he has some studies where he is putting sensors inside people's homes, where they would put them, like, on top of an Alexa app or the equivalent. A lot of people have these apps, and basically, they can sense how you are moving around and what you are doing, just movement-wise. And then they can collect that information to gain information about your life beyond just what we are seeing in the 20-minute visit in the clinic. Even when I do a walk test where I get gait speed or physical performance, short physical performance battery, the chair sit-up, those are oftentimes a single, cross-sectional, static measure. But what about the dynamic ability of capturing what has been happening for the last 7 days? What has been happening for the last 25 days between the visits, between the cycles of chemotherapy? And could that inform how I make decisions when I see patients and who do I need to target and identify? And so, we are very excited because really at UCLA, Arash is leading the technology efforts and thinking about implementation of these important measures and these important tools but leveraging new technology. And we do not want to be behind; we want to be ahead of the game. Dr. Monty Pal: I love that idea because there is a Hawthorne effect, isn't there, where you observe a process, and it naturally gets better. I mean, when you ask that patient to get up in the clinic and move, they are probably functioning to the best of their abilities, but we could probably learn a lot from just watching how fast that patient picks up a remote control at home. Some simple movement like that that is volitional would probably help out a ton. And I got to tell you, it is so funny when you mention Arash Naeim's name. I distinctly remember him serving as an attending on the wards when he was brand new at UCLA on faculty when I was a resident there. And his dad is a legendary hematopathologist, right? Dr. Mina Sedrak: I did not know that. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, yeah. Faramarz Naeim wrote the book on a lot of heme-path malignancies. Incredible guy. Very, very storied hematopathologist at UCLA.  I could probably go on this topic forever, but in the interest of time, I am going to shift to something that again, I could probably talk about forever, which is this area of senescence that you are involved in. You know, you had mentioned this to me, I am going to say during your outro from City of Hope and towards your transition to UCLA, it is such an exciting area. I mean, understanding the actual biologic process of aging and using those underpinnings to really sort of tailor therapy. So tell us where the state of the science is there with this body of work that you are doing. Dr. Mina Sedrak: As I said before, we have tools now to assess patients and to then do something about the deficits. So if a patient is falling, what we do is we refer them to physical therapy where they can do fall precautions and strength training to give them the information. But all of these supportive care interventions are very important. They are great. But they oftentimes are not targeting the root cause of why they are happening. And so that is really where I have been very interested in, how can we understand why is it that something like chemotherapy or immunotherapy is causing a decline in cognitive function or a decline in physical function? And so that has really led us to think about geriatric oncology rather than a discipline of older adults, but to think about aging as a physiologic process. We are all aging. As every day goes by, we are aging. And what that means is that our bodies are accumulating damage, the cells are being exposed to various stressors, and the repair mechanisms are declining. And as we get older, it is really more damage and less repair mechanism at the cellular molecular level. And it turns out that these processes of how our cells repair and respond to damage are fundamental processes of biological aging. And there has been a large amount of preclinical and now really exciting clinical work to show that there are hallmarks that could be used to assess the rate of which we age by looking at these processes. And that includes things like epigenetics, telomeres, inflammation, and something called ‘cellular senescence.' And we have been interested in my lab in senescence because it is a unique process that has an important role in aging, but it also has a really important role in cancer. Senescence is a cell state. Cells, when they are stressed, they respond to entering this state of senescence. The stress could come from anything. It could come from an oncogene activation. It could come from a reactive oxygen species. It could come from a direct damage to the cell. But it is a cell state, just like apoptosis, necrosis. Senescence is a state in which the cell, in response to that stressor, undergoes an arrest from the G to the S phase. And that arrest is oftentimes associated with a resistance to apoptosis. So then the cell does not die, but it is alive, and it remains metabolically active. And in fact, downstream pathways of these cell cycle inhibition of this G-to-S phase lead to the increase of these transcription factors in the chromatin and lead to the development of these pro-inflammatory factors. So these cells, which can occur in various tissues in the body, can continue to live despite having developed these changes, and then they secrete these proinflammatory molecules like cytokines, chemokines, metalloproteinases, all of these, which are called the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, or SASP. And as we age, we accumulate more and more of these cells, and our bodies are no longer able – our immune system, like macrophages and T cells – are no longer able to remove them effectively. And as we accumulate them in various organs, these organs release a lot of inflammatory cytokines, and the chronic inflammation in that tissue leads to the tissue being damaged, and it does not work as well, and then it starts to decline in function. And that is believed to be how senescence plays a role in aging. It is the accumulation of senescent cells that occurs with increased damage and then the repair mechanism of clearing these cells effectively, which then leads to build up of inflammation and chronic inflammation leads up to damage in multiple tissues. Dr. Monty Pal: This concept to me is fascinating. And I guess the big question is – senescence is bad, right – is it not reasonable to think that this body of research, I mean, if you are able to sort of have a meaningful impact on senescence, it could have implications well beyond oncology. Is that fair? You really could extend lifespan all around. Is that reasonable to think, all-cause mortality? Dr. Mina Sedrak: One hundred percent. And that is what they have been shown in animal models. And the reason senescence is exciting is because it turns out that you can target these cells and you can induce apoptosis of these cells, but it requires active targeting of various pathways, but it can occur. And when it does, and it is done either genetically or pharmacologically in mice, we see that the mice can reverse damage. So if you take an old mouse and you genetically engineer it to remove senescent cells, that mouse will go from being frail to fit. And if you take a young mouse and you induce senescent cells at a high rate and you accumulate them in that mouse, that mouse, even though it is young, will become frail.  So that has really led to this exciting opportunity of, can we translate this finding that we are seeing in animals and in in vivo cells, cell cultures, into humans? And could that have a benefit beyond just one disease? Could it have a benefit in multiple diseases? And not just really longevity, which I think it would be great, but what people are really looking for is, how do we live healthy as we get older? How do we move the curve so that people are not developing chronic diseases in their 60s, but they are developing them in their 80s towards shortening the period of their life with disability rather than what we have currently, which is people are living to 70s, the average life expectancy is in the mid-70s, but they are spending 10 or 11 years in disability of that life. And so, how could we reduce that time frame? Dr. Monty Pal: This is brilliant, Mina. And for our audience, this compelling dialogue that we have had here thankfully is translating to funding for Mina's work. He just scored in the second percentile for his NIH R01 based on this topic. We are so, so proud of you. I mean, it is just remarkable work. It is not easy in the current climate to get funding, and a second percentile score is just absolutely wonderful. You know, Mina, I could probably go on with you for a couple more hours here talking about your work in cancer and aging. I think I am going to have to have you back on the podcast here. But a million thanks for sharing your thoughts here today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast.  And thanks to our listeners too. If you value the insights that you heard today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please do not forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks, Mina. Dr. Mina Sedrak: Thank you so much. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Find out more about today's speakers:     Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal   @montypal  Dr. Mina Sedrak @minasedrakmd   Follow ASCO on social media:      @ASCO on Twitter     ASCO on Bluesky    ASCO on Facebook      ASCO on LinkedIn      Disclosures:     Dr. Monty Pal:    Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview   Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical   Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis   Dr. Mina Sedrak: Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Up-to-Date

What if you could know the true age of your brain—and start reversing it today?On this electrifying episode of Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond, recorded live at the Global Passion Project in Southampton, you'll get an insider's look at the breakthrough technologies—and bold thinkers—reshaping our future of health, longevity, and social impact.Lou sits down with a stellar lineup, including Dr. Ramses Alcaide, CEO of Neurable, who unveils how wearable brain-sensing headphones could soon make brain health measurements as common as step counters. Hear firsthand accounts from athletes concerned about cognitive decline, how new brain tech works for real users, and why investors like Peter Thiel, Chris Sacca, and Merck are betting big on brain longevity.Then, XPRIZE's Jason Bateman joins to pull back the curtain on the world's most audacious innovation prizes—from a $101M longevity award to wild carbon-capture ideas like artificial whale poop. Jason argues the biggest problems—like tribalism and the digital divide—need both competitive fire and courageous community to solve.The conversation turns to a dynamic panel with Dr. Jerome Corsi, Dr. Raj Kumar, Josh Rubin, and FDA legal expert Mike Druckman, who reveal how the pandemic, personal experience, and the hunger for systemic change are fueling a revolution in healthcare, data, and investment.If you're ready to meet the visionaries and game-changers shaping tomorrow—and learn what YOU can do about it—this is an episode you can't miss.Timestamped Overview:00:00 – Introduction Setting the scene for the Global Passion Project episodes01:01 – Dr. Ramses Alcaide shares how Neurable's brain-sensing technology is set to change healthcare (and everyday wearables)03:35 – Addressing privacy, safety, and real-world impact of brain data04:45 – Use case: Early detection of neurodegenerative conditions for athletes & those with family risks05:16 – Investors backing brain longevity and the growth of wearable brain tech06:15 – Partnering with the Department of Defense to protect soldiers' brain health07:27 – Scaling to military and commercial markets; 14 years of research brought to market 08:22 – What Dr. Ramses takes away from the Global Passion Project: Purpose, passion, and legacy09:09 – Where to find Neurable and connect with Dr. Ramses online09:50 – Jason Bateman of XPRIZE: Solving billion-scale challenges with multimillion-dollar prizes10:43 – Longevity, AI-driven education, space innovation, climate action, and wild ideas like artificial whale poop for carbon capture12:29 – The surprising origins of XPRIZE and how competition fuels innovation14:05 – Insights from the event: Harnessing capital, competition, and visionary philanthropy17:07 – Jason's biggest issue to solve: The digital divide and loss of empathy online18:50 – XPRIZE's next moonshots—like decoding the ovary's health signals21:49 – Jason's dream location: Bondi Beach, Australia22:30 – Panel intros: Dr. Jerome Corsi, Dr. Raj Kumar, Josh Rubin, and Mike Druckman reveal their personal missions and expertise26:43 – What's resonating at the event: Investment optimism and diverse passion for impact27:21 – Panel insights: Fusing expertise, diverse backgrounds, and hunger for change in healthcare28:20 – Dr. Raj's call to action: We need a little more anger and drive to change healthcare for all30:07 – Dr. Corsi: The role of global partnerships and funding to transform care30:56 – Panel contact details and their organizations for listeners and would-be collaborators34:27 – One-word summaries of the event: Inflection, Transformation, Loyalty, Spectacular 34:41 – Closing notes and where to connect with Thrive Loud and Lou Diamond

A global shift may be underway in biopharma as the White House prepares legislation that would would place restrictions on drugs brought to the U.S. from China, and pharma companies exit the U.K. in droves. President Donald Trump is reportedly writing an executive order that would clamp down on the pharmaceutical industry's ability to buy new molecules from biotechs based in China, while Sanofi, Merck and more have canceled or suspended investments in the U.K. following a sizeable increase in a mandatory levy in the region. In other business news, Novo Nordisk's newly appointed CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar hit the ground running, cutting around 9,000 employees and informing those who remained that they would need to return to the office. Novo's headcount had climbed 81% in five years as its revenue soared—and then fell. The obesity juggernaut has been a key presence at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes' annual meeting this week, announcing that it would seek FDA approval for a high-dose formulation of Wegovy, and presenting new data for long-acting amylin analog cagrilintide. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Eli Lilly's orforglipron could potentially qualify for the FDA's recently launched Commissioner's Priority Voucher, which could see the oral obesity candidate approved this year.  The gene therapy space was hit with more bad news as Capsida Biotherapeutics reported the death of a patient being treated with its investigational gene therapy for epileptic disorders. This follows an unfortunate trend in 2025 that has also seen deaths attributed to Sarepta's approved Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy Elevidys and a monoclonal antibody used for lymphodepletion in a study of Allogene's CAR T cell therapy cema-cell. According to a new analyst survey, however, doctors are still prescribing Elevidys to ambulatory patients.  Meanwhile, on the regulatory front, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director George Tidmarsh reportedly told two separate groups last week that he “would like to get away” from advisory committee meetings, but quickly appeared to walk the comments back in a statement to Endpoints News.  Finally, in BioPharm Executive, BioSpace takes a deep dive into the FDA's new crackdown on pharmaceutical drug ads, and spotlights Akeso CEO Michelle Xia who built the biotech from a $3 million angel fundraising round to its current $15 billion valuation.  

Joining us for this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning is Leslie Forde! ​​Leslie is the CEO and Founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® and soon-to-be published Author of Repair with Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom's Hierarchy of Needs. Her business provides evidence-based tools to help moms reclaim their time and well-being from the never-done-list while also helping employers retain working parents and caregivers. Since March of 2020, over 3,700 parents have participated in her research study (the longest-running of its kind) on the pandemic's ongoing impact on work, care, and wellness. With more than twenty years in senior leadership and a decade focused on media and technology in childcare, eldercare, mental health, and education, Leslie is a sought-after speaker and consultant. She advises organizations such as HubSpot, Merck, Scholastic, and the Barr Foundation on how to retain and support parents, caregivers, and people of color. Our conversation explores the growing crisis of parental stress and maternal mental health, which has been made so much worse by a perfect storm of factors such as the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising costs, shortages in healthcare and childcare resources, and the unique challenges faced by parents of neurodivergent children. Leslie shares some insights from her extensive research on the topic, explaining how parents, especially mothers, are struggling to balance the demands of caregiving, household management, and careers, often at the expense of their own well-being. The guilt, shame, and lack of flexibility in the workplace make it especially difficult for many parents to ask for the support that they desperately need. Leslie highlights the critical importance of parents, especially mothers, prioritizing self-care even in small ways to build resilience and model healthy behaviors for their children. She provides practical tips such as identifying a daily "anchor" activity and being mindful of decision fatigue to help parents carve out time for their own mental, physical, and emotional needs. Our conversation also goes into the direct connection between parents' mental health and their children's wellbeing, and how, by supporting parents, we can have a profound impact on the whole family. This conversation offers a powerful and timely exploration of the parental mental health crisis, with practical insights and solutions that can make a real difference for families! Want a deeper dive into today's topic? Join Karen and Leslie for a ChildNEXUS & Mom's Hierarchy of Needs Joint Discussion; register here! Show Notes: [2:41] - Leslie argues that rising costs, long wait times, and poor support leave families emotionally and financially strained. [4:15] - Leslie points out how coordinating specialists, schools, and daily routines creates an overwhelming, often invisible burden. [6:13] - Mothers face worsening burnout as post-pandemic losses strip away time, resources, and support systems. [9:58] - Social conditioning and low workplace safety pressure women into overcommitment despite exhaustion and caregiving needs. [12:55] - Leslie asserts that many workplaces equate commitment with overwork, leaving parents afraid to ask for flexibility and support. [15:03] - Leslie points out how parents often feel isolated and ashamed when children struggle academically or socially. [17:39] - Many mothers feel trapped without partner support or financial means. [20:51] - Leslie asserts that ignoring self-care leads to burnout that harms health, family, and career stability. [23:46] - Exhausted parents struggle to engage with energetic children, straining relationships and shared activities. [25:47] - Leslie argues that parenting requires constant exhausting micro-adjustments, like juggling trains on endlessly shifting tracks. [28:36] - Dr. Wilson recommends Leslie's book for guidance. [29:11] - Leslie advises parents to establish a daily anchor habit and reduce fatigue around making decisions. [32:57] - Dr. Wilson points out that it's important to support parents of neurodivergent children while also encouraging their own self-care practices. [33:28] - Leslie agrees and reports that post-pandemic self-care has declined as responsibilities have increased and systems have become more strained. [36:48] - Leslie praises Karen's guidance for parents while emphasizing time management and self-care as very important. [38:10] - What is the best way to reach Leslie? Links and Related Resources: Episode 151: Parenting with ADHD: Insights and Inspiration with Holly Blanc Moses Episode 167: From Surviving to Thriving: A Mom's Hierarchy of Needs and Well-Being with Leslie Forde Episode 202: How Low Demand Parenting Can Reduce Stress and Support Neurodivergent Youth with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge Leslie Forde - Repair with Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom's Hierarchy of Needs®   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our “When Struggles Overlap” Live Webinar Email Dr. Wilson: drkiwilson@childnexus.com    Connect with Leslie Forde: Email: leslie@momshierarchyofneeds.com  Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® Website Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® on Instagram Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® on Facebook Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® on Twitter Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® on Pinterest Mom's Hierarchy of Needs® on LinkedIn  

Merck's announcement that it is moving its R&D out of the U.K. highlights concerns about the country's life sciences policies. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury's analysts discuss the life sciences ecosystem in the U.K., including MHRA CEO Lawrence Tallon's plans to create a world-class regulatory environment. They also discuss a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would end most U.S.-China academic research collaborations, and the recent success of 40-year-old biotech Insmed. This episode of BioCentury This Week is sponsored by IQVIA Biotech.View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/656997#biotech #biopharma #pharma #lifescience #MHRA #China #RandD #DrugDevelopment00:01 - Sponsor Message: IQVIA Biotech01:25 - U.K. Biopharma04:40 - Grand Rounds Cambridge09:45 - SAFE Research Act18:01 - Spotlight on Insmed26:32 - Sen. Cassidy's Vaccine CalloutTo submit a question to BioCentury's editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com.Reach us by sending a text

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world.Novartis and Monte Rosa have entered into their second molecular glue deal worth up to $5.7 billion, with Novartis putting $120 million upfront for more of the biotech's AI-discovered degraders. The myasthenia gravis market, once sparse, is now flourishing with new treatments approved and promising late-stage trial results from companies like Argenx and Regeneron. In other news, AstraZeneca has suspended its $270 million commitment in the UK, the FDA has flip-flopped on scrapping advisory committee meetings, and Sino Biological has developed a high-throughput platform for AI-driven antibody discovery. The myasthenia gravis space is heating up with targeted therapies, with several companies releasing promising late-stage trial results. Biogen is developing a pipeline for lupus, with investors showing interest in their programs. The FDA has several actions scheduled for September, including Merck's proposed subcutaneous formulation of Keytruda. Eli Lilly's obesity pill, Orforglipron, is in focus at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting. In the cancer news, Merck's Keytruda challenger faces consistency problems, while other companies like Daiichi Sankyo and Biontech report positive data. Capsida reports a patient death in a gene therapy trial, while Alkermes shows promise in narcolepsy treatment. FDA is looking to streamline the development of non-opioid painkillers. Various webinars and events are upcoming in the pharma industry. Job opportunities are available at companies like Moderna, Abbvie, and Regeneron. Overall, the biopharma industry is seeing advancements and progress in various therapeutic areas.

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Daniel Eckert und Philipp Vetter über Rückenwind für die Hannover Rück, den erfolgreichen Börsengang der Kryptobörse Gemini und fehlende Friedensfantasie bei Heidelberg Materials. Außerdem geht es um Warner Bros Discovery, Tesla, Micron Technology, Palantir, Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, Strategy, Trade Republic, EQT, Apollo Global Management, Merck & Co., Amgen, Boeing, Nike, Coinshares Physical XRP (WKN: A3GRUE), Bitwise Physical XRP (WKN: A3GYNB) und Invesco Physical Bitcoin (WKN: A3GU8J). Die Tickets zum Finance Summit am 17. September bekommt ihr 40 Euro günstiger – aber nur mit dem exklusiven Code AAA2025, der ihr unter dem folgenden Link eingeben müsst: https://veranstaltung.businessinsider.de/BN5aLV Außerdem könnt ihr unter diesem Link euer Depot hochladen – und mit etwas Glück wird kein Geringerer als Christian W. Röhl euer Depot beim Summit checken und optimieren. https://form.jotform.com/Product_Unit/formular-finance-summit-depot-check Wir freuen uns über Feedback an aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Der Börsen-Podcast Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world.President Trump is considering exempting certain "non-patented" pharmaceuticals from tariffs, although specific guidelines have not yet been released. The Intercept has withdrawn a liver drug from the US market, and Ocaliva, approved for primary biliary cholangitis in 2016, did not receive full approval last year. Merck is cutting 125 employees in the UK as it ends R&D work. AbbVie has extended exclusivity for its drug Rinvoq until 2037 with a generics settlement. Novo's headcount has increased by 81% in five years as revenue climbed. The FDA is reportedly preparing an order restricting Chinese drug licensing deals. Capsida has reported a patient death in a gene therapy trial. Novartis' BD team is busy with bolt-on deal promises for 2025. That's all for today's news in the Pharma and Biotech world. Thank you for listening!

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world.## Capsida has reported a patient death in a gene therapy trial for epilepsy, but the exact cause of death has not been disclosed. The patient had received the gene therapy cap-002. ## The FDA is looking to streamline the development of non-opioid painkillers, while Avidity has seen functional improvements in their DMD therapy. ## The White House is reportedly considering restrictions on Chinese licensing deals in the pharmaceutical industry. ## Lilly is seeking individuals willing to challenge the status quo of medicine. ## Merck has abandoned a $1.3 billion R&D center in London, resulting in layoffs. Novo has cut 9,000 employees, and New York City's life sciences scene is growing. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Pharma and Biotech daily. Stay informed and have a great day!

From the BBC World Service: Pharmaceutical giant Merck has scrapped plans worth more than $1 billion to expand its operations in the United Kingdom, blaming a lack of government support. It's the latest pharmaceutical company to curb investments there. Also, Mexico plans to slap tariffs of up to 50% on cars from China and other Asian countries. And, there's a warning from the World Health Organization that workers worldwide need better protection from extreme heat.

From the BBC World Service: Pharmaceutical giant Merck has scrapped plans worth more than $1 billion to expand its operations in the United Kingdom, blaming a lack of government support. It's the latest pharmaceutical company to curb investments there. Also, Mexico plans to slap tariffs of up to 50% on cars from China and other Asian countries. And, there's a warning from the World Health Organization that workers worldwide need better protection from extreme heat.

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, military analysts are worried about Nato's response to a Russian drone attack, and US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre. Plus, investors have raised a record amount this year off “Bowie bonds”. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead in UtahWhat is Vladimir Putin's game plan against Nato's eastern flank?Merck slams UK as it scraps £1bn London drug research centre‘Bowie bonds' go mainstream as Wall Street chases returnsEmail Swamp Notes with your questionsToday's FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Katya Kumkova and Sonja Hutson. Additional help from Kelly Garry and Michael Lello. The FT's acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Bain finds out why US drugmaker Merck has abandoned its £1billion research centre in London, laying of more than a hundred jobs. We'll have the latest on the cyber attack affecting Jaguar Land Rover. And as London Tube strikes enter another day, we'll take a look at the impact on businesses - both the good and the bad.

Author, Boomer, and CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting, Alaina Love, is a nationally recognized leadership coach and purpose expert, helping people lead better lives for more than 20 years. Her book, Permission to Be You: Discover Your Purpose and Passions to Bring Your Best Self to Everything—and Everyone, just launched and reveals the power of passion-centered living to bring clarity and fulfillment to work, relationships, and life's biggest transitions. Love was formerly a research scientist and executive director of global human resources at Merck & Co., Inc. She has served as a leadership columnist for Bloomberg Business Week, The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, and SmartBrief.

Dr. Pedro Barata and Dr. Rana McKay discuss the integration of innovative advances in molecular imaging and therapeutics to personalize treatment for patients with renal cell and urothelial carcinomas. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Pedro Barata: Hello, I'm Dr. Pedro Barata, your guest host of By the Book, a podcast series featuring insightful conversations between authors and editors of the ASCO Educational Book. I'm a medical oncologist at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and an associate professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I'm also an associate editor of the ASCO Educational Book. Now, we all know the field of genitourinary cancers (GU) is evolving quite rapidly, and we have new innovations in molecular imaging as well as targeted therapeutics. Today's episode will be exploring novel approaches that are transforming the management of renal cell and urothelial carcinomas and also their potential to offer a more personalized treatment to patients. For that, joining for today's discussion is Dr. Rana McKay, a GU medical oncologist and professor at University of California San Diego. Dr. McKay will discuss her recently published article titled, “Emerging Paradigms in Genitourinary Cancers: Integrating Molecular Imaging, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Targeted Therapies, and Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Renal Cell and Urothelial Carcinomas.”  Our full disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode.  And with that, Rana McKay, great to have you on the podcast today. Dr. Rana McKay: Oh, thank you so much, Dr. Barata. It's really wonderful to be here with you. So, thanks for hosting. Dr. Pedro Barata: No, thanks for taking the time, and I'm looking forward to this conversation. And by the way, let me start by saying congrats on a great article in the Educational Book. Really super helpful paper. I'm recommending it to a lot of the residents and fellows at my own institution. I would like to first ask you to kind of give our listeners some context of how novel approaches in the molecular imaging as well as targeted therapeutics are actually changing the way we're managing patients with GU, but specifically with renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. So, what are the areas you would call out as like being big areas for innovation in this context, and why are they important? Dr. Rana McKay: Very good question. And I think this is really what this article highlights. It highlights where are we going from an imaging diagnostics standpoint? Where are we going from a therapeutic standpoint? And I think if we have to step back, from the standpoint of diagnostics, we've seen PET imaging really transform diagnostics in prostate cancer with the advent of PSMA PET imaging, and now PSMA PET imaging is used as a biomarker for selection for theranostics therapy. And so, we're starting to see that enter into the RCC landscape, enter into the urothelial cancer landscape to a lesser extent. And I think it's going to potentially be transformative as these tools get more refined. I think when we think about therapeutics, what's been transformative most recently in the renal cell carcinoma landscape has been the advent of HIF2α inhibition to improve outcomes for patients. And we have seen the approval of belzutifan most recently that has reshaped the landscape. And now there's other HIF2α inhibitors that are being developed that are going to be further important as they get refined. And lastly, I think when we think about urothelial carcinoma, the greatest transformation to treatment in that context has been the displacement of cisplatin and platinum-based chemotherapy as a frontline standard with the combination of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab. And we've seen antibody-drug conjugates really reshape treatment and tremendously improve outcomes for patients. So, I think those are the three key areas of interest. Dr. Pedro Barata: So with that, let's focus first on the imaging and then we'll get to the therapeutic area. So, we know there's been a paradigm shift, really, when prostate-specific targets emerged as tracers for PET scanning. And so, we now commonly use prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA-based PET scanning, and really transform how we manage prostate cancer. Now, it appears that we're kind of seeing a similar wave in renal cell carcinoma with the new radiotracer against the target carbonic anhydrase IX. What can you tell us about this? And is this going to be available to us anytime soon? And how do you think that might potentially change the way we're managing patients with RCC today? Dr. Rana McKay: First, I'll step back and say that in the context of PSMA PET imaging, we have actually been able to better understand RCC as well. So, we know that PSMA is expressed in the neovasculature of tumors, and it can actually be used to detect renal cell carcinoma tumors. It has a detection rate of about 84% when used for detection. And so, you know, I don't think it's just restricted to carbonic anhydrase IX, but we will talk about that. So, PSMA expressed in the neovasculature has a detection rate of around 84%, particularly if we're looking at clear cell RCC. CAlX is overexpressed in clear cell RCC, and it's actually used in diagnosing renal cell carcinoma when we think of CAlX IHC for diagnosing clear cell RCC. And now there are CAlX PET tracers. The first foray was with the ZIRCON study that was actually an interestingly designed study because it was designed to detect the likelihood of PET imaging to identify clear cell RCC. So, it was actually used in the early diagnostics setting when somebody presents with a renal mass to discriminate that renal mass from a clear cell versus a non-clear cell, and it was a positive study. But when I think about the potential application for these agents, you know, I think about the entire landscape of renal cell carcinoma. This is a disease that we do treat with metastasis-directed therapy. We have certainly seen patients who've undergone metastasectomy have long, durable remissions from such an approach. And I think if we can detect very early onset oligometastatic disease where a metastasis-directed therapy or SABR could be introduced - obviously tested in a trial to demonstrate its efficacy - I think it could potentially be transformative. Dr. Pedro Barata: Wonderful. It's a great summary, and I should highlight you are involved in some of those ongoing studies testing the performance of this specific PET scanning for RCC against conventional imaging, right? And to remind the listeners, thus far, for the most part, we don't really do FDG-PET for RCC. There are some specific cases we do, but in general, they're not a standard scanning. But maybe that will change in the future. Maybe RCC will have their own PSMA-PET. And to your point, there's also emerging data about the role of PSMA-PET scanning in RCC as well, as you very elegantly summarized. Wonderful. So, let me shift gears a little bit because you did, in your introduction, you did highlight a novel MOA that we have in renal cell carcinoma, approved for use, initially for VHL disease, and after that for sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. We're talking about hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha inhibitors, or HIF2α inhibitors, such as belzutifan. But there's also others coming up. So, as a way to kind of summarize that, what can you tell us about this breakthrough in terms of therapeutic class, this MOA that got to our toolbox of options for patients with advanced RCC? Tell us a little bit what is being utilized currently in the management of advanced RCC. And where do you see the future going, as far as, is it moving early on? Is it getting monotherapy versus combinations? Maybe other therapies? What are your thoughts about that? What can you tell us about it? Dr. Rana McKay: Belzutifan is a first-in-class HIF2α inhibitor that really established clinical validation for HIF2α as a therapeutic target. When we think about the activity of this agent, the pivotal LITESPARK-005 trial really led to the approval of belzutifan in patients who were really heavily pretreated. It was patients who had received prior IO therapy, patients who had received prior VEGF-targeted therapy. And in the context of this study, we saw a median PFS of 5.6 months, and there did seem to be a tail on the curve when you looked at the 12-month PFS rate with belzutifan. It was 33.7% compared to 17.6% with everolimus. And then when we look at the response rate, it was higher with belzutifan on the order of 22-23%, and very low with everolimus, as we've previously seen. I think one of the Achilles heels of this regimen is the primary PD rate, which was 34% when used in later line. There are multiple studies that are testing belzutifan in combination across the treatment landscape. So, we have LITESPARK-011, which is looking at the combination of belzutifan plus lenvatinib in the second-line setting. We've got the MK-012 [LITESPARK-012] study, which is looking at belzutifan in various combinations in the frontline setting. So there is a combination with IO plus belzutifan. And so this is also being looked at in that context. And then we also have the LITESPARK-022 study, which is looking at pembrolizumab with belzutifan in the adjuvant setting. So there's a series of studies that will be exploring belzutifan really across the treatment landscape. Many of these studies in combination. Additionally, there are other HIF2α inhibitors that are being developed. We have casdatifan, which is another very potent HIF2α inhibitor. You know, I think pharmacologically, these are different agents. There's a different half-life, different dosing. What is going to be the recommended phase 3 dose for both agents, the EPO suppression levels, the degree of EPO suppression, and sustainability of EPO suppression is very different. So, I think we've seen data from casdatifan from the ARC-20 trial from monotherapy with a respectable response rate, over 30%, primary PD rate hovering just around 10%.  And then we've also seen data of the combination of casdatifan with cabozantinib as well that were recently presented this year. And that agent is also being tested across the spectrum of RCC. It's being looked at in combination with cabozantinib in the PEAK-1 study, and actually just at the KCRS (Kidney Cancer Research Summit), we saw the unveiling of the eVOLVE-RCC trial, which is going to be looking at a volrustomig, which is a PD-1/CTLA-4 inhibitor plus casdatifan compared to nivo-ipi in the frontline setting.  So, we're going to see some competition in this space of the HIF2α inhibitors. I think when we think of mechanism of action in that these are very potent, not a lot of off-target activity, and they target a driver mutation in the disease. And that driver mutation happens very early in the pathogenesis. These are going to be positioned much earlier in the treatment landscape. Dr. Pedro Barata: All these studies, as you're saying, look really promising. And when we talk about them, you mentioned a lot of combinations. And to me, when I think of these agents, it makes a lot of sense to combine because there's not a lot of overlapping toxicities, if you will. But perhaps for some of our listeners, who have not used HIF2α inhibitors in practice yet, and they might be thinking about that, what can you tell us about the safety profile? How do you present it to your patients, and how do you handle things like hypoxia or anemia? How do you walk through the safety profile and tolerability profile of those agents like belzutifan? Dr. Rana McKay: I think these drugs are very different than your traditional TKIs, and they don't cause the classic symptoms that are associated with traditional TKIs that many of us are very familiar with like the rash, hand-foot syndrome, hypertension, diarrhea. And honestly, these are very nuanced symptoms that patients really struggle with the chronicity of being on a chronic daily TKI. The three key side effects that I warn patients about with HIF2α inhibitors are: (1) fatigue; (2) anemia; and (3) hypoxia and dysregulation in the ability to sense oxygen levels. And so, many of these side effects - actually, all of them - are very dose-dependent. They can be very well-managed. So, we can start off with the anemia. I think it's critically important before you even start somebody on belzutifan that you are optimizing their hemoglobin and bone marrow function. Make sure they don't have an underlying iron deficiency anemia. Make sure they don't have B12 or folate deficiency. Check for these parameters. Many patients who have kidney cancer may have some hematuria, other things where there could be some low-level blood loss. So, make sure that those are resolved or you're at least addressing them and supplementing people appropriately. I monitor anemia very closely every 3 to 4 weeks, at least, when people start on these medications. And I do initiate EPO, erythropoietin, should the anemia start to worsen. And I typically use a threshold of around 10g/dL  for implementing utilization of an EPO agent, and that's been done very safely in the context of the early studies and phase 3 studies as well. Now, with regards to the hypoxia, I think it's also important to make sure that you're selecting the appropriate individual for this treatment. People who have underlying COPD, or even those individuals who have just a very high burden of disease in their lung, lymphangitic spread, pleural effusions, maybe they're already on oxygen - that's not an ideal candidate for belzutifan. Something that very easily can be done in the clinic before you think about initiating somebody on this treatment, and has certainly been integrated into some of the trials, is just a 6-minute walk test. You know, have the patient walk around the clinic with one of the MAs, one of the nurses, put the O2 sat on [measuring oxygen saturation], make sure they're doing okay. But these side effects, like I said, are very dose-dependent. Typically, if a patient requires, if the symptoms are severe, the therapy can be discontinued and dose reduced. The standing dose is 120 mg daily, and there's two dose reductions to 80 mg and 40 mg should somebody warrant that dose modification. Dr. Pedro Barata: This is relatively new, right? Like, it was not that we're used to checking oxygen levels, right? In general, we're treating these patients, so I certainly think there's a learning curve there, and some of the points that you highlight are truly critical. And I do share many of those as well in our practice. Since I have you, I want to make sure we touch base on antibody-drug conjugates as well. It's also been a hot area, a lot of developments there. When I think of urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma, I see it a little bit different. I think perhaps in urothelial carcinoma, antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, are somewhat established already. You already mentioned enfortumab vedotin. I might ask you to expand a little bit on that. And then in renal cell carcinoma, we have some ADCs as well that you include in your chapter, and that I would like you to tell us what's coming from that perspective. So, tell us a little bit about how do you see ADCs in general for GU tumors, particularly UC and RCC? Tell us a little bit about the complexity or perhaps the challenges you still see. At the same time, tell us about the successes. Dr. Rana McKay: Stepping back, let's just talk about like the principles and design of ADCs. So, most ADCs have three components. There's a monoclonal antibody that typically targets a cell surface antigen, which is conjugated by a linker, which is the second component, to a payload drug. And typically, that payload drug has been chemotherapy, whether it be topoisomerase or whether it be MMAE or other chemotherapeutic. We can start in the RCC space. There's been multiple antibody-drug conjugates that have been tested. There's antibody-drug conjugates to CD70, which is expressed on clear cell RCC. There's been antibody-drug conjugates to ENPP3, which is also expressed on RCC. There's antibody-drug conjugates to CDH6. And they have different payloads, like I said, whether it be topoisomerase I or other microtubule inhibitors. Now, when we think about kidney cancer, we don't treat this disease with chemotherapy. This disease is treated with immunotherapy. It is treated with treatments that target the VEGF pathway and historically has not been sensitive to chemo. So, I think even though the targets have been very exciting, we've seen very underwhelming data regarding activity, and in some context, seen increased toxicity with the ADCs. So, I think we need to tread lightly in the context of the integration and the testing of ADCs in RCC. We just came back from the KCRS meeting, and there was some very intriguing data about a c-Kit ADC that's being developed for chromophobe RCC, which is, you know, a huge unmet need, these variant tumors that really lack appropriate therapeutics. But I just caution us to tread lightly around how can we optimize the payload to make sure that the tumor that we're treating is actually sensitive to the agent that's targeting the cell kill. So, that's a little bit on the ADCs in RCC. I still think we have a long way to go and still in early testing. Now, ADCs for UC are now the standard of care. I think the prototypical agent, enfortumab vedotin, is a nectin-4-directed ADC that's conjugated to an MMAE payload and was the first ADC approved for advanced urothelial, received accelerated approval following the EV-201 trial, which was basically a multicenter, single-arm study that was investigating EV in cisplatin-ineligible patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma, and then ultimately confirmed in the EV-301 study as well. And so, that study ended up demonstrating the support superiority of EV from an overall survival standpoint, even PFS standpoint. Building on that backbone is the EV-302 study, which tested EV in combination with pembrolizumab versus platinum-based chemotherapy in the frontline setting. And that was a pivotal, landmark study that, like I said, has displaced platinum therapy as a frontline treatment for people with advanced urothelial carcinoma. And when we think about that study and the median overall survival and just how far we've come in urothelial cancer, the median OS with EV-pembro from that trial was 31 and a half months. I mean, that's just incredible. The control arm survival was 16 and a half months. The hazard ratio for OS, 0.47. I mean this is why when this data was presented, it was literally a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes because we just haven't seen data that have looked that good. And there are other antibody-drug conjugates that are being tested. We've all been involved in the saga with sacituzumab govitecan, which is a trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) targeted ADC with a topoisomerase I payload. It was the second ADC to receive approval, but then that approval was subsequently withdrawn when the confirmatory phase 3 was negative, the TROPiCS-04 trial. So, approval was granted based off of the TROPHY-U-01, single-arm, phase 2 study, demonstrating a response rate of around 28% and a PFS of, you know, about 5 and a half months. But then failure to show any benefit from an OS standpoint. And I think there's a lot of controversy in the field around whether this agent still has a role in advanced urothelial carcinoma. And I think particularly for individuals who do not have molecular targets, like they're not HER2-amplified or have HER2-positivity or FGFR or other things like that. Dr. Pedro Barata: Fantastic summary, Rana. You were talking about the EV, and it came to mind that it might not be over, right, for the number of ADCs we use in clinical practice in the near future. I mean, we've seen very promising data for ADC against the HER2, right, and over-expression. It also can create some challenges, right, in the clinics because we're asking to test for HER2 expression. It's almost like, it's not exactly the same to do it in breast cancer, but it looks one more time that we're a little bit behind the breast cancer field in a lot of angles. And also has vedotin as a payload. Of course, I'm referring to disitamab vedotin, and there's very elegant data described by you in your review chapter as well. And it's going to be very interesting to see how we sequence the different ADCs, to your point as well. So, before we wrap it up, I just want to give you the opportunity to tell us if there's any area that we have not touched, any take-home points you'd like to bring up for our listeners before we call it a day. Dr. Rana McKay: Thank you so much. I have to say, you know, I was so excited at ASCO this year looking at the GU program. It was fantastic to see the progress being made, novel therapeutics that really there's a tremendous excitement about, not just in RCC and in UC, but also in prostate cancer, thinking about the integration of therapies, not just for people with refractory disease that, even though our goal is to improve survival, our likelihood of cure is low, but also thinking about how do we integrate these therapies early in the treatment landscape to enhance cure rates for patients, which is just really spectacular. We're seeing many of these agents move into the perioperative setting or in combination with radiation for localized disease. And then the special symposium on biomarkers, I mean, we've really come a long, long way. And I think that we're going to continue to evolve over the next several years. I'm super excited about where the field is going in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies. Dr. Pedro Barata: Oh, absolutely true. And I would say within the Annual Meeting, we have outstanding Educational Sessions. And just a reminder to the listeners that actually that's where the different teams or topics for the Educational Book chapters come from, from actually the educational sessions from ASCO. And your fantastic chapter is an example of that, right, focusing on advanced GU tumors. So, thank you so much, Rana, for taking the time, sharing your insights with us today on the podcast. It was a fantastic conversation as always. Dr. Rana McKay: My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me, Dr. Barata. Dr. Pedro Barata: Of course.  And thank you to our listeners for your time today. You will find the link to the article discussed today in the transcript of this episode. I also encourage you to check out the 2025 ASCO Educational Book. You'll find an incredible wealth of information there. It's free, available online, and you'll find, hopefully, super, super important information on the key science and issues that are shaping modern oncology, as we've heard from Dr. McKay and many other outstanding authors. So, thank you, everyone, and I hope to see you soon. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Follow today's speakers:        Dr. Pedro Barata @PBarataMD Dr. Rana McKay @DrRanaMcKay Follow ASCO on social media:        @ASCO on X (formerly Twitter)        ASCO on Bluesky       ASCO on Facebook        ASCO on LinkedIn        Disclosures:     Dr. Pedro Barata: Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Luminate Medical Honoraria: UroToday Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, BMS, Pfizer, EMD Serono, Eisai, Caris Life Sciences, AstraZeneca, Exelixis, AVEO, Merck, Ipson, Astellas Medivation, Novartis, Dendreon Speakers' Bureau: AstraZeneca, Merck, Caris Life Sciences, Bayer, Pfizer/Astellas Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Blue Earth, AVEO, Pfizer, Merck  Dr. Rana McKay: Consulting or Advisory Role: Janssen, Novartis, Tempus, Pfizer, Astellas Medivation, Dendreon, Bayer, Sanofi, Vividion, Calithera, Caris Life Sciences, Sorrento Therapeutics, AVEO, Seattle Genetics, Telix, Eli Lilly, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Ambrx, Sumitomo Pharma Oncology, Esiai, NeoMorph, Arcus Biosciences, Daiichi Sankyo, Exelixis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Astrazeneca, Myovant Research Funding (Inst.): Bayer, Tempus, AstraZeneca, Exelixis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Oncternal Therapeutics, Artera    

Aktien hören ist gut. Aktien kaufen ist besser. Bei unserem Partner Scalable Capital geht's unbegrenzt per Trading-Flatrate oder regelmäßig per Sparplan. Alle weiteren Infos gibt's hier: scalable.capital/oaws. Aktien + Whatsapp = Hier anmelden. Lieber als Newsletter? Geht auch. Das Buch zum Podcast? Jetzt lesen. Der Kalender zum Podcast? Jetzt kaufen. Die 8 US-Tech-Giganten werden gepusht: Von Teslas neuem Musk-Bonus, Broadcoms Beziehung mit OpenAI und dem Urteil von Alphabet. Außerdem: Robinhood, AppLovin & Emcor in S&P 500. ServiceTitan, Samsara & Guidewire performen. Spotify hat gezeigt, wie gut Musik-Streaming-Aktien funktionieren. Kann Tencent Music Entertainment (WKN: A2N7WQ) das wiederholen? Merck (WKN: 659990) ist irgendwo zwischen günstiger Bewertung, ablaufenden Patenten und riesigen Übernahmen. Diesen Podcast vom 08.09.2025, 3:00 Uhr stellt dir die Podstars GmbH (Noah Leidinger) zur Verfügung.

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world. During a Senate hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced criticism for spreading anti-vaccine views and breaking promises regarding vaccines. The FDA released rejection letters for companies like Lykos Therapeutics, Stealth Biotherapeutics, and Regeneron. Ousted CDC director Susan Monarez accused Kennedy of firing her for not supporting Covid-19 recommendations from an advisory panel with "antivaccine rhetoric." Hengrui Pharmaceuticals signed lucrative deals with Merck and GSK, while the FDA promised to release future Complete Response Letters promptly. In other news, Sanofi's anti-OX40 blocker failed in a Phase III study, Gilead partnered with the US State Department for low-income countries, and AC Immune announced workforce cuts. Kennedy was accused of lying during the hearing, and the FDA released a new rare disease approval framework.

In today's episode, Stig Brodersen is talking stocks with Tobias Carlisle and Hari Ramachandra. Stig's pick is Uber, the world's largest ride-hailing company. Tobias is pitching Bath & Body Works, a category leader in home and personal fragrance. Hari's stock of choice is Merck, a pharmaceutical giant that owns the blockbuster oncology drug. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:23 - Stig's bull case for Uber (Ticker on NYSE: UBER). 17:15 - The bear case for Uber, including the regulatory risk. 58:37 - Why Hari is bullish on Merck (Ticker on NYSE: MRK). 01:12:10 - The bear case for Merck, including the “Keytruda patent cliff.” 01:17:32 - Why Toby is bullish on Bath & Body Works (Ticker on NYSE: BBWI). 01:27:10 - The bear case of Bath & Body Works, including the debt level. And so much more! Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join the exclusive ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIP Mastermind Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members. Stig Brodersen's Portfolio and Track record.  Listen to Shawn and Daniel's episode about Uber. Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q2, 2025 or watch the video.   Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q1, 2025 or watch the video. Tobias' podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Acquirers Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tobias' ETFs, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ZIG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tobias' Acquirer's Multiple stock screener: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AcquirersMultiple.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. NEW TO THE SHOW? Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Intrinsic Value Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We Study Billionaires Starter Packs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow our official social media accounts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIP Finance Tool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoy exclusive perks from our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠favorite Apps and Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠best business podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SimpleMining⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HardBlock⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AnchorWatch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Human Rights Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vanta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onramp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Netsuite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our show by becoming a premium member! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

Dr. Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University, researches something he calls “modern alchemy.” As many of the world's most effective chemical catalysts are made from rare and precious metals, Dr. Chirik pioneers methods to create high-performing catalysts from common, earth-abundant metals—esseintially transforming common materials into “gold.” On this exciting episode of Let's Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Mehreen and Elizabeth Li dive deeper into this concept and its exciting applications in our interview with Dr. Chirik. Dr. Chirik goes on to explain how his group has used their research in collaborations with companies such as Merck and Exxon Mobile, and shares fascinating insights into the dynamics between academia and industry. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal and Dr. Petros Grivas discuss innovative new intravesical therapies and other recent advances in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Hello and welcome. I'm Dr. Monty Pal here at the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm a medical oncologist and professor and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. And I'm really delighted to be your new host here. Today's episode is going to really sort of focus on an area near and dear to my heart, something I actually see in the clinics, and that's bladder cancer. We're specifically going to be discussing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, which actually comprises about 75% of new cases. Now, in recent years, there's been a huge shift towards personalized bladder-preserving strategies, including innovative therapies and new agents that really are reducing reliance on more primitive techniques like radical cystectomy and radiation therapy. And I'm really excited about this new trend. And really at the forefront of this is one of my dear friends and colleagues, Dr. Petros Grivas. He's a professor in the Department of Medicine and Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Washington. It's going to take a while to get through all these titles. He's taken on a bunch of new roles. He is medical director of the International Program, medical director of the Local and Regional Outreach Program, and also professor in the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Petros, welcome to the program. Dr. Petros Grivas: Thank you so much, Monty. It's exciting for me to be here. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Just FYI for our audience, our disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode.  We're going to get right into it, Petros. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, this is a really, really challenging space. We see a lot of recurrence and progression of the disease over time, about 50% to 70% of patients do have some recurrence after initial treatment, and about 30% are ultimately going to progress on to muscle-invasive or metastatic disease. Now, I will say that when you and I were in training, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer was something that was almost relegated to the domain of the urologist, right? They would use treatments such as BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) in a serial fashion. It was rare, I think, for you and I to really enter into this clinical space, but that's all changing, isn't it? I mean, can you maybe tell us about some of the new therapies, two or three that you're really excited about in this space? Dr. Petros Grivas: Monty, you're correct. Traditionally and conventionally, our dear friends and colleagues in urology have been managing patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The previous term was superficial bladder cancer. Now, it has changed, to your point, to non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. And this has to do with the staging of this entity. These tumors in superficial layers of bladder cancer, not invading the muscularis propria, the muscle layer, which makes the bladder contract for urine to be expelled. As you said, these patients have been treated traditionally with intravesical BCG, one of the oldest forms of immunotherapy that was developed back in the 1970s, and this is a big milestone of immunotherapy development. However, over the years, in the last 50 years, there were not many options for patients in whom the cancers had progression or recurrence, came back after this intravesical BCG. Many of those patients were undergoing, and many of them still may be undergoing, what we call radical cystectomy, meaning removal of the bladder and the lymph nodes around the bladder. The development of newer agents over the last several years has given the patients the option of having other intravesical therapies, intravesical meaning the delivery of drugs, medications inside the bladder, aiming to preserve the bladder, keep the bladder in place. And there are many examples of those agents. Just to give you some examples, intravesical chemotherapy, chemotherapy drugs that you and me may be giving intravenously, some of them can be given inside the bladder, intravesical installation. One example of that is a combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel. These drugs are given in sequence one after the other inside the bladder, and they have seen significant efficacy, good results, again, helping patients keeping the bladder when they can for patients with what we call BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. And again, there's criteria that the International Bladder Cancer Group and the FDA developed, how to define when BCG fails, when we have BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: And we're actually going to get into some of the FDA requirements and development pathways and so forth. What I'm really interested in hearing, and I'm sure our audience is too, are maybe some of the new intravesical treatments that are coming around. I do think it's exciting that the gemcitabine and docetaxel go into the bladder indeed, but what are some of the top new therapies? Pick two or three that you're excited about that people should be looking out for in this intravesical space. Dr. Petros Grivas: For sure, for sure. In terms of the new up-and-coming therapies, there are a couple that come to mind. One of them is called TAR-200, T-A-R 200. This agent is actually a very interesting system. It's an intravesical delivery of a chemotherapy called gemcitabine, the one that I just mentioned a few minutes ago, that is actually being delivered through what we call a pretzel, which is like a rounded [pretzel-shaped] structure working like an osmotic pump, and that is being delivered inside the bladder intravesically by urologists. And this drug is releasing, through the osmotic release mechanism, this chemotherapeutic drug, gemcitabine, inside the bladder. And this can be replaced once every 3 weeks in the beginning. And the data so far from early-phase trials are really, really promising, showing that this agent may be potentially regulatory approved down the road. So TAR-200 is something to keep in mind. And similarly, in the same context, there is a different drug that also uses the same mechanism, and this osmotic release, this pretzel, it's just encoded with a different agent. The different agent is an FGFR inhibitor, a target therapy called erdafitinib, a drug that you and me may give in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma if they have an FGFR3 mutation or fusion. And that drug is called TAR-210. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: And can I ask you, in that setting, do you have to have an FGFR3 mutation to receive it? Or what is the context there? Dr. Petros Grivas: So for TAR-210, TAR-2-1-0, usually there is a checking to see if there is an FGFR3 mutation or fusion. And the big question, Monty, is do we have adequate tissue, right? From a limited tissue on what we call the TURBT, right, that urologists do. And now there is a lot of development in technology, for example, urine circulating tumor DNA to try to detect these mutations in the urine to see whether the patient may be eligible for this TAR-210. Both of those agents are not FDA approved, but there are significant promising clinical trials. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: So now let's go to a rapid-fire round. Give us two more agents that you're excited about in this intravesical space. What do you think? Dr. Petros Grivas: There is another one called cretostimogene. It's a long name. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: They really make these names very easy for us, don't they? Dr. Petros Grivas: They are not Greek names, Monty, I can tell you, you know. Even my Greek language is having trouble pronouncing them. The cretostimogene, it's actually almost what we call a growth factor, a GM-CSF. The actual name of this agent is CG0070. This is a replicating mechanism where GM-CSF is replicating in cells. And this agent has shown significant results again, like the TAR-200, in BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. I would say very quickly, two agents that actually were recently approved and they're already available in clinical practice, is nadofaragene firadenovec, another long name. That's a non-replicating vector that has the gene of interferon alfa-2b that stimulates the immune system in the bladder. It's given once every 3 months. And the last one that was, as I mentioned, already FDA approved, it's an interleukin-15 superagonist. It's another long name, which is hard to pronounce, but I will give it a try. It's a drug that was recently actually approved also in the UK. The previous name was N-803. It's given together with BCG as a combination for BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: This is a huge dilemma, I think, right? Because if you're a practicing, I'm going to say urologist for the moment, I guess the challenge is how do you decide between an IL-15 superagonist? How do you decide between a pretzel-eluting agent? How do you decide between that and maybe something that's ostensibly, I'm going to guess, cheaper, like gemcitabine and docetaxel? What's sort of the current thinking amongst urologists? Dr. Petros Grivas: Multiple factors play into our account when the decision is being made. I discuss with urologists all the time. It's not an easy decision because we do not have head-to-head comparisons between those agents. As you mentioned, intravesical chemotherapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel has been used over the years and this is the lowest cost, I would say, the cheapest option with good efficacy results. Obviously, the nadofaragene firadenovec every 3 months and the interleukin-15 superagonist, N-803, plus BCG have also been approved. The question is availability of those agents, are they available? Are they reimbursed? Cost of those agents can come into play. Frequency of administration, you know, once every 3 months versus more frequent. And of course, the individual efficacy and toxicity data, preference of the patients; sometimes the provider, the urologist, may have something that they may be more familiar with. But we lack this head-to-head comparison. Of course, I want to make sure I mention that radical cystectomy may still be the option for appropriate patients. So that complicates also the decision making and has to be individualized, customized, and personalized, taking into account all those factors. And there is not one size fitting all. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: So I think we discussed five intravesical therapies. As you point out, and you know, I'm going to get some calls about this: I think I referred to radical cystectomy as being a more primitive procedure. Not true at all. I think it's something that still is, you know, a mainstay of management in this disease space. But I guess it gets even more complicated, am I right, Petros? Because now we have systemic therapies that we can actually apply in this non-muscle invasive setting for at this point, refractory disease. Can you maybe just give us a quick two-minute primer on that? Dr. Petros Grivas: Absolutely, and systemic therapies now come into play, as you said. And a classical example of that, Monty, came from the KEYNOTE-057 trial that we published about 6 years ago. This is intravenous pembrolizumab, given intravascularly, intravenously, as opposed to the previously discussed intravesical administration of agents. Pembrolizumab was tested in that KEYNOTE-057 trial and showed efficacy about, I would say, one out of five patients, about 20%, had a complete response of the tumor in the bladder in a year after starting the treatment. Again, it's hard to compare across different agents, but obviously when we give something intravenously, there is a risk of toxicity, side effects systemically, what we call immune-related adverse events. And this can also play in the decision making, right? When you have intravesical agents versus intravascular agents, there is different toxicity profiles in terms of systemic toxicity. But intravenous pembrolizumab has been an option, FDA approved, since, if I remember, it was early 2020 when this became FDA approved. There are other agents being tested in this disease, but like atezolizumab through the SWOG study that Dr. Black and Dr. Singh led, but atezolizumab is not FDA approved for this indication. Again, this is for BCG unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: So maybe teach us how it works, for instance, at an expert center like the Fred Hutch. When you see a patient with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, there's obviously the option of surgery, there's the intravesical therapies, which I imagine the urology team is still really at the helm of. But then, I guess there has to be consideration of all options. So you've got to bring up systemic therapy with agents like pembrolizumab. In that context, are you involved that early on in the conversation? Dr. Petros Grivas: That's a great discussion, Monty. Paradigm is shifting as we mentioned together. The urologists have been treating these patients and still they are the mainstay of the treaters, the managers in this disease. But medical oncologists come to play more and more, especially with the FDA approval of intravenous pembrolizumab about 5 years ago [GC1]  [KM2] . We have the concept of multidisciplinary bladder cancer clinic here at Fred Hutch and University of Washington. This happens every Tuesday morning, and we're very excited because it's a one-stop shop for the patients. We have the urologist, a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and experts from radiology and pathology, and we all review cases specifically with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. But every now and then, we see patients with BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. And this is where we discuss and we talk to the patient about pros and cons of all those options. And that's a classic example where medical oncologists may start to see those patients and offer their input and expertise. In addition to that, sometimes we have clinical trials, we may see these patients because there are systemic agents that may be administered in this setting. We have the SunRISe trial program that includes also a systemically administered checkpoint inhibitor. So that's another example where we see patients either in the context of multi-clinic or in individual solo clinics to counsel the patients about the pros and cons of the systemically administered agents in the context of clinical trials. Usually checkpoint inhibitors are the class of agents that are being tested in this particular scenario. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: I can see a scenario where it's really going to require this sort of deep dive, much in the way that we do for prostate cancer, for instance, where the medical oncologist is involved very early on and planning out any sort of systemic therapy component of treatment or at the very least, at least spelling out those options. I think it's going to be really interesting to see what this space looks like 5 or 10 years down the road. In closing, I wanted to go through something that I think is so different in this space, at least for the time being, and that is the paradigm for FDA approval. When you and I have our fellows in the clinics, we always say, “Look, you know, the paradigm in this disease and that disease and the other disease needs to be phase 3 randomized trials, right? Big thousand patient experiences where you're testing clinical endpoints.” That's tough in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, right? Because thankfully, outcomes can actually be quite good, you know, in this setting, right? It's tough to actually estimate overall survival in some of these early-stage populations. Tell me what the current regulatory bar is, and this is a tough thing to do in 2 minutes or less but tell me where you see it headed. Dr. Petros Grivas: You alluded to that before, Monty, when I was giving the background and we talked about the regulatory approval. And I have to very quickly go back in time about 10 years ago because it's important for context that can help us in other disease types too. We had workshops with the FDA and the NCI with the help of the International Bladder Cancer Group and other colleagues. And we try to define a framework, what endpoints are meaningful for those patients in this disease. It was a multidisciplinary, multiple stakeholders meeting, where we tried to define what is important for patients. What are the available agents? What are the trial designs we can accept? And what are the meaningful endpoints that the regulatory agencies can accept for regulatory approval? And that was critical in that mission because it allowed us to design clinical trials, for example, single-arm trials in a disease where there was no standard of care. There was intravesical valrubicin and chemotherapy anthracycline that was approved for many years, but was not practically used in clinical practice, despite being approved, the valrubicin. And because of that, the FDA allowed these single-arm trials to happen. And obviously the endpoint was also discussed in that meeting. For example, for carcinoma in situ, complete response, clinical complete response, because the bladder remains intact in many patients, clinical complete response was a meaningful primary endpoint, also duration of response is also very important. So what is the durable clinical complete response in 1 year or 18 months is relevant. And when you have papillary tumors like Ta or T1 with CIS, for papillary tumors, event-free survival becomes one of the key endpoints and you look at it over time, for example, at 12 or 18 months, what is the event-free survival? So clinical complete response, duration of response, event-free survival, depending on the CIS presence or papillary tumors, I think these are endpoints that have allowed us to design those trials, get those agents approved.  Now, the question going forward, Monty, and we can close with that is, since now we have the embarrassment of riches, many more options available compared to where we were 6 and 7 years ago, is now the time to do randomized trials? And if we do randomized trials, which can be the control group? Which of those agents should be allowed to be part of the control group? These are ongoing discussions right now with the NCI, with other agencies, cooperative groups, trying to design those trials and move forward from here.[GC3]  Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Well, it's awesome to have you here on the program so we can get some early looks into some of these conversations. I mean, clearly, you're at the table at a lot of these discussions, Petros. So I want to thank you for sharing your insights with us today. This was just tremendous. Dr. Petros Grivas: Thank you, Monty. You know, patients in the center, I just came back from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network meeting in Washington, D.C., and we discussed all those questions, the topics you very eloquently mentioned and asked me today, and patients gave us great feedback and patients guide us in that effort. Thank you so, so much for having me and congratulations for the amazing podcast you're doing. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Oh, cheers, Petros, thanks so much.  And thank you to the listeners who joined us today. If you really like the insights that you heard on this ASCO Daily News Podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks, everyone. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.   Find out more about today's speakers:      Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal  @montypal  Dr. Petros Grivas @PGrivasMDPhD   Follow ASCO on social media:     @ASCO on Twitter    ASCO on Bluesky   ASCO on Facebook     ASCO on LinkedIn     Disclosures:    Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal:   Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview  Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical  Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis  Dr. Petros Grivas: Consulting or Advisory Role: Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, EMD Serono, Pfizer, Janssen, Roche, Astellas Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Strata Oncology, Abbvie, Bicycle Therapeutics Replimune, Daiichi Sankyo, Foundation Medicine, Bicycle Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, Urogen Pharma, Tyra Biosciences Research Funding (Inst.): Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, EMD Serono, Gilead Sciences, Acrivon Therapeutics, ALX Oncology, ALX Oncology, Genentech Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Gilead Sciences

In this episode of Data in Biotech, host Ross Katz talks with Jesper Ryge, Director of Computational Biology at Merck Germany. Jesper shares his journey from neuroscience labs to leading computational teams, offering deep insights into disease modeling, target discovery, and multi-omics integration. Discover how AI and spatial transcriptomics are shaping the future of pharma R&D. ​​What You'll Learn in This Episode >> How single-cell and spatial transcriptomics enhance disease mechanism discovery >> Why data integration and knowledge graphs are critical for target validation >> How computational biology teams interface with wet lab research >> What makes Merck Germany's data strategy unique in biotech >> How generative AI is changing how pharma interprets complex datasets Meet Our Guest Jesper Ryge is Director of Computational Biology at Merck Germany. A biophysicist by training, he brings deep expertise in neuroscience, single-cell analysis, and bioinformatics to pharmaceutical R&D. About The Host Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation. Connect with Our Guest: Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancyFind out more about MerckConnect with Jesper Ryge on LinkedIn  Connect with Us: Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn Sponsored by… This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released new vaccine recommendations that directly oppose guidance from the HHS – insisting on COVID-19 vaccinations in babies as young as 6 months. Pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole & Dr. Kelly Victory reveal how the AAP has been captured by Big Pharma interests. The organization's top donors, listed on their own website, are Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, and Sanofi: the 4 pharma companies that “make virtually every vaccine on the CDC recommended childhood vaccine schedule.” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a stern warning in response: “AAP should also be candid with doctors and hospitals that recommendations that diverge from the CDC's official list are not shielded from liability under the 1986 Vaccine Injury Act.” Dr. Ryan Cole is a board-certified pathologist trained at Mayo Clinic with subspecialty in dermatopathology from Columbia University. He holds a PhD in virology and immunology and directed a medical laboratory in Idaho for 20 years. He testifies globally on Covid policy and medical freedom. Follow at https://x.com/drcole12 Dr. Kelly Victory is Chief of Emergency & Disaster Medicine at The Wellness Company. A trauma and emergency specialist with over 30 years of experience, she served as Chief Medical Officer for Fortune 500 companies and is an alumna of Harvard's National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. More at https://x.com/DrKellyVictory 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • VSHREDMD – Formulated by Dr. Drew: The Science of Cellular Health + World-Class Training Programs, Premium Content, and 1-1 Training with Certified V Shred Coaches! More at https://drdrew.com/vshredmd • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Susan Pinsky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/firstladyoflov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Sather and Nate Prince return with another hard-hitting episode of MAHA News, diving into the week's biggest health and freedom stories. They kick things off with the Pete and Bobby Challenge, where Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. put their strength to the test in a push-up and pull-up competition that has everyone talking. From there, the hosts shift into the serious implications of glyphosate spraying in Canada and the broader dangers of genetically engineered crops, highlighting how hidden RNA tinkering in food could impact human genetics and health. The discussion then takes aim at the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is under fire for its push to remove vaccine exemptions and its continued cozy ties with big pharma giants like Pfizer, Merck, and Moderna. RFK Jr.'s sharp rebuke of the AAP sparks debate about liability, childhood vaccine schedules, and health freedom. With side conversations on raw milk legalization, natural detox strategies, and the cultural psyop of green lawns, this episode weaves humor, practicality, and blunt truth into an engaging exploration of health sovereignty.

After many U.S. biopharma companies posted sales declines in the first quarter, the domestic pharma industry largely bounced back to growth in the second quarter. In this episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma's Eric Sagonowsky and Kevin Dunleavy break down the numbers behind the industry’s second-quarter performance. Among U.S. pharma heavyweights, J&J, AbbVie, Pfizer, Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb and Biogen each eked out gains this past quarter. Their results varied, with individual stories worth highlighting at each of these major companies. Beyond earnings, Sagonowsky and Dunleavy also discuss the growing competition in diabetes and obesity treatments between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, as well as Merck’s rising financial reliance on its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, among other topics. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Several US pharma giants stage Q2 sales turnaround after subpar results earlier in year The battle of the obesity drug heavyweights 7 top pharmas posted revenue declines in Q1. The common thread? All are US firms Biopharma briefing: Q1 trends, gene therapy updates and ASCO preview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merck KGaA's Emre Ozcan outlines the company's systematic approach to integrating digital solutions across the care continuum in specialty pharmaceuticals, moving from technology-first to patient-need-first strategies.

After some years developing websites and interactive and digital marketing projects, Guillem joined Merck in 2009, and he has been always related to digital marketing projects on the business side. Since 2020 Guillem has been driving the Social Selling initiative for Merck Life Science, focusing on Social Scouting with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Social Listening and Employee Advocacy, to help Sales teams be more effective by using social channels to uncover new business opportunities. His work with using Chat CPT to support employee content has been truly inspiring with some great results. Folllow him on Linkedin for more https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillemcardenal/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal and Dr. Arielle Elkrief discuss the clinical relevance of the gut microbiome in cancer immunotherapy and the importance of antibiotic stewardship, as well as interventions currently being explored to treat gut dysbiosis and optimize immunotherapy response. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Hi everyone, I'm Dr. Monty Pal, welcoming you to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm a medical oncologist. I'm a professor and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.  Today we're here to discuss one of my favorite topics, which is the gut microbiome. It's almost hard to avoid the gut microbiome nowadays if you look at medical literature within oncology. It's an emerging phenomenon, but there are a couple of individuals that I would really define as pioneers in the field. And one of them is actually with me today, Dr. Arielle Elkrief, to discuss the clinical relevance of the gut microbiome, particularly amongst patients receiving immunotherapy, although I imagine our conversation today will take many twists and turns. Arielle is an assistant professor and clinician scientist in the Department of Oncology at the University of Montreal, and she is co-director of the CHUM Microbiome Center there.  FYI for the listeners, we have our full disclosures in the transcript of this episode.  Arielle, thank you so much for joining us today. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Thanks so much, Monty. This is going to be amazing. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: Well, I have to tell you what sort of inspired me to bring you on as a guest. It was one of many things, but it was this really terrific ASCO Educational [Book] article that you wrote. Now, I have to tell you, I've read all the articles sort of cover to cover in the book, and they're always a wonderful primer, so if our audience is studying for board research or something of that sort, it's a terrific resource to go through. I have to tell you, this piece on the gut microbiome that you wrote is nothing short of a masterpiece. If you read this cover to cover, it's actually going to give you, I think, a sense of the current state and future state of the field. I wanted to start by just sort of beginning with sort of the origin story for a lot of this, which is this association between the gut microbiome and immunotherapy response. This takes us back several years to this pivotal series of papers in Science. Maybe you could walk our audience through that. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Absolutely. Well, thank you so much for your kind words about the ASCO [Educational] Book. It was a team effort with a lot of key opinion leaders in the field, so I'm really glad to learn that you've liked it.  Moving backwards in terms of how we came to understand that the gut microbiome is essential to priming a response to cancer immunotherapy actually goes back to 2015 and seminal papers that looked at what happens when we take mice that are germ-free mice that have never been exposed to a microbiome. These are mice that are born by cesarean section and essentially live in a bubble. And when we give those mice tumors and treat them, in the first papers with anti-CTLA-4 treatment, we realized that these antibodies don't work at all. And that was the first observation that the presence of a gut microbiome was essential to mounting an anti-cancer immune response. When we supplemented those same mice with beneficial bacteria or feces from responder patients, we were able to restore the response to immunotherapy. And so those were really the first preclinical observations that made us understand the critical role of the microbiome in immunotherapy response. Moving a little bit in the future, we examined the fecal microbiome composition using shotgun metagenomic sequencing in different cohorts of patients with solid tumors, namely lung cancers, kidney cancers, and also skin tumors like melanoma, and found that patients who responded to immunotherapy had a distinct microbiome that was characterized by beneficial bacteria compared to patients who experienced resistance to immunotherapy that had a dysbiotic or diseased microbiome. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: So, you know, it's interesting, these techniques that we're using to sequence the gut, they're a little bit different. So I wonder if you can give the audience a quick primer on these techniques that you're so well versed in, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, 16S rRNA sequencing. If you had to describe this in 30 seconds, which is a tall task, how would you do that? Dr. Arielle Elkrief: That's a tall task. Much of what we know about the microbiome initially came from a technique called 16S rRNA sequencing. This is a technique that amplifies the 16S region and basically tells you at the genus level what's going on at the level of bacterial composition. This technique is fast, relatively cheap, and can be performed on a laptop computer, which is excellent. The problem is that it's prone to a lot of technical variations. Different primers might give you different results, and you're really limited at the genus resolution. You can't get a good resolution in terms of species, and we're learning that different species from the same genus might have different physiological properties, and the same thing goes at the strain level. So when we really zone in and look at inter-species changes, we're seeing that these actually have specific functions in the host. So that brings us to metagenomic sequencing, which is a whole genome sequencing, next-generation sequencing based method that looks at the whole composition and gives you information not only on bacteria, but you might also get fungal and viral properties. You can zoom in on the strain level. You can also get functional output, so we can examine what the metabolic properties of specific species or strains might look like. The negative aspects of shotgun metagenomic sequencing is that it takes a lot of computational power in order to analyze the results and it might take a little bit longer. And certainly, within the clinical setting, not something that's feasible yet.  And that brings us to more novel point-of-care biomarker tools that we've collaborated in developing along with Dr. Laurence Zitvogel and Dr. Lisa Derosa at Gustave Roussy, that learning from the shotgun metagenomics results designed a probe using quantitative PCR which looks for this specific bacteria we know to be important and developed a ratio of harmful bacteria to beneficial bacteria. This is called the TOPOSCORE, and it actually is able to predict quite nicely the response to immunotherapy using a stool sample and a really good turnaround time of almost 72 hours. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: That was a perfect overview and a lot of information in a short amount of time. It also makes you take out your high school biology textbooks, doesn't it, to understand that the bacterial ribosome, right, is a different size and shape, and that's what we're sequencing here. But these techniques I think are incredibly important, and I'm glad you actually discussed this, this RT-PCR based strategy of calculating the TOPOSCORE. It lends itself to this phenomenon of dysbiosis, and I think for our audience, that's going to be an important term to understand as time goes on. There's the normal healthy gut and then there's this phenomenon of dysbiosis, which is, I guess, simply put, an unhealthy gut. But tell us about, you know, how often you see dysbiosis in a cancer patient, maybe versus a normal healthy adult. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: So, I think we can split up your question into two parts. One is we know from cohort studies and population level-based studies that the microbiome of patients with cancer is distinct from healthy patients or healthy people. And we know that because of the global composition. We also think that there are diversity metrics that lend themselves to being described as dysbiotic. But we do know that the microbiome of people with cancer is distinct from healthy volunteers. That's the first point.  In terms of how frequently dysbiosis occurs in patients with cancer, it's not very well defined. We know that even among healthy people, there is a certain level of dysbiosis. Laurence in her talk mentioned that to be about 10% to 20%. And the other fascinating component is that when we're thinking about dysbiosis and the cancer associated microbiome, in terms of the species that are enriched, it's quite striking that a lot of these dysbiotic or negative bacteria are also found to be enriched in patients with metabolic disease, like cardiovascular disease, for example. And so it's unclear if dysbiosis is the cause or consequence, but there definitely seems to be a general pattern of disease when looking at the microbiome compared to healthy people. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: That's interesting. So, I'll tell you, my second favorite portion of your article, and I'll tell you my favorite portion as well in the context of this podcast, but my second favorite part was the section around antibiotic stewardship. You know, the utilization of antibiotics in a very pragmatic fashion amongst our patients. Can you describe why that's so critical in the context of the microbiome? Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome composition. We know this from mouse studies, but also cohort studies of patients that are exposed to antibiotics. And most importantly, we know that patients who are exposed to antibiotics, either before or during the immunotherapy period, have significantly worse progression-free survival and overall survival to immunotherapy. And this is true for immunotherapy in the monotherapy setting, but also when combined with chemotherapy. What's striking is that when we look at patients who are just treated with chemotherapy, we don't see the negative outcome of antibiotics on outcome and progression-free survival and overall survival, suggesting that the negative impact of antibiotics on outcomes is really specific to immunotherapy backbones. The other important point is that this negative signal is maintained even after adjusting for standard prognostic variables in the specific malignancies that we're looking at. And then most importantly, at the mechanistic level, we were able to actually pinpoint the mechanism behind this antibiotic related dysbiosis. And we see this with a bloom of negative bacteria which induces a loss of MAd-CAM, which is an endothelial gut checkpoint immune marker, and that causes an efflux of immunosuppressive T cells, which are usually in the gut, to go straight into the tumor where they make the tumor unamenable to an immunotherapy response. And so now we finally have the mechanism as to why antibiotics are harmful and why we need to practice antibiotic stewardship. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: And just to be clear for the audience, I mean, if a patient needs antibiotics, they need antibiotics. But perhaps it just suggests that, and we have, I suppose, this predilection as oncologists, just for the minor cold or cough or what have you, we maybe should be a little bit more cognizant of whether or not antibiotics are truly necessary. Is that fair? Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Absolutely. So what we're advocating for is antibiotic stewardship, and this is the clear recommendation that we can make. So that means confirming a bacterial infection. If it's there and antibiotics are indicated, to choose the most narrow spectrum for the shortest course and constantly re-evaluate the indication of antibiotics. And of course, we need to work with our colleagues in infectious diseases who've done incredible work in antibiotic stewardship. And all along this process we also need to be mindful of other medications and polypharmacy, such as proton pump inhibitors or narcotics, for example, we think that these other medications which are frequently prescribed in our cancer population can also potentially have negative impacts on the microbiome and immunotherapy response. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: I think that's a terrific summary and big guidance for the audience.  I promised you I'd tell you my favorite part of your article, and this is this huge table. I think the table is two and a half pages long, if I remember correctly, but it's an awesome table, and I highly recommend our audience to check this out. It lists literally every therapeutic trial for the microbiome under the sun. And so it begins with the approach of fecal microbiota transplant, which I'm going to ask you to tell us about in a second, but it also hinges on a lot of really cool sort of novel therapies, live bacterial products, mixes of different microbial products. Maybe take us through this whole approach of FMT (fecal microbiota transplantation). I actually wasn't aware of the dozens of trials that you listed there in this space. It seems like it's a very active area of research. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Definitely. So, as you alluded to, FMT or fecal microbiota transplantation is the most well studied and direct way to modify the patient's microbiome. This technique aims to replace the patient's dysbiotic microbiome with that of a healthy microbiome, either from a healthy donor volunteer that's been heavily screened, or from a patient who experienced response to immunotherapy. And, as three landmark studies so far that have been published demonstrated the potential of FMT to reduce primary resistance or secondary resistance to immunotherapy, and this has been in melanoma.  We also recently reported on the results of our FMT-LUMINate trial, which looked at patients with lung cancer and melanoma. Once again, FMT, when combined with immunotherapy was safe and led to a higher proportion of responses than we would normally expect.  We're now also looking at randomized trials that have come out. So the first being the TACITO trial in kidney cancer, which compared FMT plus pembrolizumab and axitinib to placebo in patients with RCC, and again, FMT was safe and feasible and also led to an increased progression-free survival at one year, meeting the study's primary endpoint.  And so, so far, there's a wealth of data really showing the promise of FMT when combined with immunotherapy, and we're now in the process of conducting larger randomized trials, including in melanoma with the CCTG (Canada Cancer Trials Group) in our ME17 or Canbiome2 trial, where we're going to be enrolling 128 patients with metastatic melanoma to receive FMT and standard of care immunotherapy compared to standard of care immunotherapy alone. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: You're very humble, so I've got to highlight for our audience. This was a mega grant that Arielle received to fund really the largest prospective exploration of FMT that will exist to date. So I'm really excited about that. I wish this was something we could participate in stateside.  Before we jump into the other approach, which is live bacterial products and mixes thereof, where do you see FMT going? I think that one of the perceived challenges with FMT is that it's hard to implement, right? You need to have a really robust framework when it comes to gastroenterology, the preparation's challenging. Is there a way to envision FMT use being more generalized? Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Those are great questions. So we're lucky in Canada to work with pioneers in FMT, Michael Silverman, Saman Maleki, and John Lenehan in London, Ontario, who had this really robust FMT healthy donor screening program, which literally screens for every pathogen under the sun, and we haven't had any problems with feasibility or implementing FMT in Canada. But I think that once we're going to hopefully start doing larger scale, randomized phase three studies, that we might run into problems with scalability. And I think also with regards to reproducibility, and that's the feedback that we're getting from some regulatory authorities, especially at the level of the FDA, where there are some concerns around inter- and intra-donor variability because, of course, we can't guarantee that every fecal sample is going to be the same. So that has really pushed the field to think about other strategies, such as live biotherapeutic products which take modified FMT or bacteria from stools from either healthy donors or from responder patients and basically turn them into drugs that are regulated as drugs and can then be studied in the context of investigational new drugs or products. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: I like this and, you know, I do think that there's a future for it. We just have to kind of put our heads together and figure out how to get over all of these logistical hurdles, but, you know, I agree, I think your group and others have demonstrated, especially with this trial that you're fanning out all throughout Canada, that it can potentially be done.  This is a topic that could probably go on for another couple of hours, right, especially based on the size of the table that you put together in this brilliant article, but tell us about live bacterial products or LBPs, as we call them these days. What's the current status, what's the future there? And maybe I'll give you less than two minutes here, although again, I realize it's a two-hour topic. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: You're probably better suited to speak about that because you've been one of the pioneers in terms of this. So we can think about LBPs in terms of single strain organisms, like CBM588 for an example, which your group did some amazing work in showing that, in a randomized setting, that this led to better responses than we would expect compared to just work with controls. We also know that LBPs can have multiple strains, up to 30. We're collaborating with a company called Cannabis Bioscience that is actually working on much larger communities of consortia. And so we're really excited about the direction that that's taking in terms of taking these LBPs and developing them from the drug perspective. In addition to LBPs, we know that there are other ways that we can change the microbiome, notably prebiotics, which are compounds which can have a beneficial impact on the microbiome. And one of these is camu camu, which I know your group is leading a clinical trial looking at camu camu and kidney cancer, and we're excited to see how that compares to FMT or LBPs, because that might be a potentially scalable alternative. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: That's awesome. What a terrific overview, and that was less than two minutes. I don't know how you did it. That's terrific.  Arielle, this has been such an insightful conversation. I just want to thank you for, again, a terrific article in the ASCO Educational Book. I highly recommend all of our listeners to go there and check it out, and also for sharing all these terrific insights on the podcast today. Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Thank you so much, Monty. Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal: And thanks to our listeners, too. If you value the insights that you heard today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks, everyone. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Find out more about today's speakers:    Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal  @montypal Dr. Arielle Elkrief Follow ASCO on social media:     @ASCO on Twitter    ASCO on Bluesky   ASCO on Facebook     ASCO on LinkedIn     Disclosures:    Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal:   Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview  Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical  Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis  Dr. Arielle Elkrief: Honoraria: AstraZenica, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, EMD Serono Consulting or Advisory Role: Bristol-Myers Squibb Research Funding (Inst.): Kanvas Bioscience, AstraZeneca, Merck Other Relationship: Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Canada, Cedar's Cancer Center (Henry R. Shibata Fellowship), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

There aren't many Ivy League professors as bold as Dave Collum. It's amazing he still has a job.  (00:00) How Collum Predicted the 2008 Financial Crisis (11:00) Collum's Mission to Uncover the Truth About Covid (19:36) Government Experiments Being Conducted on Foster Care Children (24:17) What's the Truth About Diddy? (34:07) What's the Truth About the Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump? (1:00:45) Are We Being Purposefully Distracted From Things That Actually Matter? (1:12:04) The Real Dangers of AI Dave Collum is a professor of organic chemistry at Cornell University, where he earned his BS in biology and later returned after completing his PhD in chemistry at Columbia. A former department chair and 20-year associate editor of The Journal of Organic Chemistry, Dave has also consulted for major pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Pfizer, and Amgen. Outside of academia, he's known for his sharp, contrarian takes on politics, economics, and culture—often shared via his unfiltered X account (@DavidBCollum), frequent podcast appearances, and his widely read annual “Year in Review” at Peak Prosperity. He's also coached collegiate gymnastics and taekwondo and has been featured in outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, and The Federalist but usually on topics far removed from chemistry. Paid partnerships with: Dutch: Get $50 a year for vet care with Tucker50 at https://dutch.com/tucker Liberty Safe: Visit https://LibertySafe.com to find a dealer and learn more Beam: Get 30% off for a limited time using the code TUCKER at https://ShopBeam.com/Tucker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‍ New: Valora - Your AI Business Coach Turn the wisdom from this episode into practical actions for your business in minutes. Click here now to access the tool > ‍ How to Lead with Quiet Confidence and Create Partnerships that Thrive Does it sometimes feel as though the workplace, or business world, was designed for the loudest voices, not for you? In this episode of The Brilliant Business Book Festival, I'm joined by Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of The Introverted Leader (3rd Edition): Building on Your Quiet Strength, and several other books that change the business game. Her work shines a light on what so many of us have felt: introverts aren't less capable, they simply lead differently. And when they're allowed to do so, the results can be extraordinary. What follows isn't just a recap of our conversation. It's a deeper dive into why introversion is a leadership advantage, how introverts and extroverts can form “genius opposites” partnerships, and how practical tools like delegation and preparation can transform how we show up at work. You'll learn how understanding your natural wiring can help you prepare, communicate, and collaborate more powerfully, without pretending to be someone you're not. If you've ever felt overlooked in meetings, frustrated by fast-paced demands, or unsure how to delegate without losing your standards, this conversation will give you tools, strategies, and confidence to lead on your own terms. ‍ ‍ Prefer to WATCH instead of read? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/@melittacampbell/podcasts ‍ ‍ “Quiet leaders aren't less capable — they're often more prepared, more observant and more trusted.” - Jennifer Kahnweiler ‍ Why Introversion is a Leadership Strength For too long, introversion has been cast as something to overcome. “Speak up more.” “Be more confident.” “Network like extroverts.” ‍ But Jennifer reminds us: introversion isn't a flaw. It's a foundation. Introverted leaders thrive because they bring qualities that today's organisations desperately need: ‍ Preparation: the ability to walk into a room having thought through angles, questions, and next steps. Deep listening: a skill that makes colleagues and clients feel truly heard. Meaningful connection: not surface-level networking, but genuine one-to-one or small group relationships that last. Think of it like gardening. Extroverts may scatter seeds widely, covering ground quickly. Introverts plant fewer seeds, but tend and water them with patience … leading to stronger, longer-lasting growth. ‍ When introverts stop trying to keep up with the loudest voices and instead honour their natural wiring, leadership begins to feel more natural, more energising, and more effective. ‍ Making the Most of “Genius Opposites” One of Jennifer's most fascinating frameworks is what she calls “genius opposites”: introverted–extrovert partnerships that, when nurtured properly, create exponential results. Through her research, she developed the ABCDE model for making these partnerships thrive: A – Accept the Alien: stop trying to change your partner; embrace their difference. B – Bring on the Battles: don't avoid conflict, air it out early before resentment builds. C – Cast the Character: put people in roles where their strengths shine (the extrovert waving people down at a trade show; the introvert taking them deeper once they're at the booth). D – Destroy the Dislike: you don't have to be best friends, but you do need mutual respect, and a little humour goes a long way. E – Each Can't Offer Everything: clients and colleagues benefit when both voices are present; difference leads to richer solutions. The metaphor here is a pair of rowers in a boat. If both row on the same side, you go in circles. But when you learn to pull in sync from opposite sides, you glide forward faster and straighter than you ever could alone. ‍ “The right introvert–extrovert partnership doesn't add up, it multiplies.” - Jennifer Kahnweiler ‍ Speaking Up — Without Being Loud One of the biggest frustrations introverts share is being overlooked in meetings. You pause to reflect before speaking, and suddenly someone else has jumped in. Silence gets misread as disinterest. But Jennifer offers strategies that allow introverts to be heard without forcing themselves to “perform”: Prepare key points ahead of time so you can contribute with clarity. Ask for reflection time (“I'd like to think about this and come back with a response tomorrow”). Follow up in writing with a synthesis of ideas, often more valuable than what's said in the room. Brené Brown has even built reflection breaks into her team's meetings, so introverts (including herself) have space to process ideas before decisions are made. A simple but profound reminder that influence doesn't always happen in the room; it happens in the follow-up too. ‍ Delegation Without the Guilt Many introverts struggle with delegation — worried that tasks won't be done to their standard, or that they'll burden others. But holding on to everything creates bottlenecks, exhaustion and stalled growth. Jennifer reframes delegation as a gift, not a burden. By handing over tasks: You free space for your strategic thinking, the work only you can do. You give others the opportunity to learn and grow. You prevent burnout, ensuring you show up as your best self. Think of delegation like passing a torch in a relay race. You're not abandoning the run; you're ensuring the team as a whole keeps moving forward faster. ‍ The Quiet Confidence Advantage If you take only one thing from Jennifer's research and our conversation, let it be this: Introversion is not just “enough” — it's an advantage. By honouring your natural strengths, partnering wisely with complementary styles, and creating environments where quieter voices are respected, you don't just survive in leadership — you thrive. And perhaps the bigger invitation is this: what if we stopped assuming leadership must look a certain way, and instead embraced the full spectrum of how people naturally show up? The result wouldn't just be fairer, it would be far more effective. ‍ Final Thought to Reflect On? What could shift for you if you stopped trying to “keep up” with the loudest voices, and instead led in the way only you can? ‍ Want to explore what this could look like for you? ‍Learn more about the ways you can work with Melitta Campbell to uncover your Value Sweet Spot to market, sell and grow your business confidently, and always on your terms. Working with Melitta >  ‍ ‍ About Jennifer Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, PhD, is a bestselling author and one of the top global leadership speakers on introverts in the workplace. Her pioneering books, The Introverted Leader, Quiet Influence, The Genius of Opposites, and Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces have been translated into 18 languages. The Introverted Leader was named one of the top 5 business books by The Shanghai Daily. Jennifer has partnered with leading organizations like Amazon, Merck, Kimberly Clark, NASA, Bosch, and the US Centers for Disease Control. She has over 12 years experience delivering online presentations and courses. She has delivered keynotes from Singapore to Spain. Her engaging presentations to diverse audiences blend research with provocative examples and practical tools. Jennifer has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and The New York Times and has appeared as a guest on over 100 podcasts. Jennifer holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation, awarded to a small percentage of speakers, and is proud to serve as a mentor to many professional women. She received her PhD in counseling and organizational development from Florida State University and her degrees in sociology and counseling from Washington University, St. Louis. A native New Yorker, Jennifer calls Atlanta, GA home. ‍ Read Jennifer's Book: The Introverted Leader (3rd Edition): Building on Your Quiet Strength ‍ Connect with Jennifer Website    LinkedIn ‍ ‍ About Your Host, Melitta Campbell Melitta Campbell is an award-winning business coach, TEDx speaker, author of A Shy Girl's Guide to Networking and founder of the Dream Clients Club. ‍ Through her Value WhisperingTM Blueprint, she helps introverted female entrepreneurs build quietly impactful businesses that grow through clarity, trust, and alignment. ‍ Learn more about working with Melitta here ‍ Loved this episode? Turn your Insight into Action with Valora Valora is the podcast's new AI Business Coach. Answer three short questions and she'll translate your responses into simple, practical actions you can take this week to grow your business. Click here now to access Valora > ‍ ‍ You May Also Enjoy... Get a PhD in You: A Course in Miraculous Self-Discovery The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea The Common Path To Uncommon Success More Heart, Less Hustle The Truth About Entrepreneurial Poverty (and how to avoid it) ‍ > More Podcast Episodes ‍

Dominate C. diff! Learn to distinguish colonization from infection, select first-line therapies, and counsel patients on recurrence prevention and microbiome recovery. We're joined by IDSA past president and expert on foodborne and intestinal infections, Dr. Cindy Sears (Johns Hopkins University) for a comprehensive update on Clostridioides difficile (C. diff, Cdiff, CDAD, CDI). Claim CME for this episode at curbsiders.vcuhealth.org! Patreon | Episodes | Subscribe | Spotify | YouTube | Newsletter | Contact | Swag! | CME Show Segments 00:00 Intro 03:00 Guest bio and hobby 04:25 Case of Charles Fleur Fontaine 06:00 Risk factors and epidemiology 08:00 Antibiotic hierarchy of risk 10:00 Diagnosis, testing strategies 14:00 Defining severity 17:30 Treatment options 20:00 Microbiome recovery strategies 24:00 Probiotics and postbiotics 27:00 Infection control counseling 30:00 C. diff and colon cancer 32:00 Recurrent C. diff strategies 35:00 Why some FMT and bezlotoxumab were discontinued 38:00 Microbiota replacement therapies 43:00 Prophylaxis strategies 45:00 Future therapies and ongoing research 47:00 Audience Q&A 52:00 Outro Credits Written and Produced by: Matthew Watto, MD, FACP  Cover Art and Infographic by: Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP    Reviewer: Sai S Achi MD,MBA,FACP Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP Technical Production: PodPaste Guest: Cynthia Sears MD Disclosures Dr. Sears reports no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Williams financial relationships disclosed include a Merck grant or research support. This relationship has not ended. Sponsor: Mint Mobile  This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/CURB  Sponsor: Panacea Financial Let Panacea Financial take the financial stress off your plate,so you can get back to doing what matters most. Visit panaceafinancial.com  Sponsor: FIGS Get15% off your first order at wearfigs.com with the code FIGSRX